ISSN 0147 9725

£ U CL tin o f iCie. M axij [and &xnLt£io[oqLca [ <zSodE.tij, One.

SEPTEMBER 1983

VOLUME 39
NUMBER3

MARYLAND ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC

Cylburn Mansion, 4915 Greenspring Ave., Baltimore, Maryland 21209

STATE OFFICERS FOR MAY 1983 TO JUNE 1984

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

President: Martha Chestem, 10850 Faulkner Rdg Cr, Columbia 21044 739-1527

Vice Pres.: CDR Anthony White, 5872 Marbury Rd. t Bethesda 20817 229-1641

Treasurer: Richard Cleveland, 19108 N. Pike Cr. PI, Gaithersburg 926-7109

Secretary: Helen Ford, 408 Beach Drive, Annapolis 21403 267-8417

Exec. Secy: Mary Love, 10735 Cordage Walk, Columbia 21044 596-3148

Past Pres.: John Cullom, 437 Paradise Avenue, Baltimore 21228 747-5870

STATE DIRECTORS

Allegany:

‘Robert Paterson
Robert Hiegel
Kendrick Y. Hodgdon

Howard:

Anne Arundel:

‘Dorothy Mumford

Emily Joyce
Gary Van Velsir

Kent:

Baltimore:

‘Robert F. Ringler
John Cullom
John Eckard
Edwin Gosnell
Eleanor Jones

Montgomery:

Robert Lyon
Jane Myzur
Jean Worthley

Patuxent:

Talbot

Caroline

‘Steve Westre
Marianna Nuttle

Carroll:

‘William D. Ellis
Robert Rasa

Washington

Frederick:

‘David H. Wallace

Norman Chamberlin

Wicomico:

Harford:

‘Kermit Updegrove

Joyce Sherman
Sarah Standiford

* Jane H. Farrell
Joseph B. Byrnes
Roy Trudel
Paul Zucker

‘Stephen B. Hitchner
Margaret Duncan

‘Paul O’Brien
Margaret Donnald
Philip A. DuMont
Lola Oberman

‘Virginia Kuykendall
Chandler S. Robbins

‘Terry Allen
Lucille Spain
Kathleen Trevor

‘Mary Corderman
Robert Keedy
Alberta Thurmond

‘Chester J. Ross
Lee Meinersmann

‘Denotes Chapter President
Active Membership (adults)

Student Membership (full-time students)
Junior Membership (under 18 years)
Family Membership (Mr. & Mrs.)
Sustaining Membership
Life Membership
Member-at-Large

5.00 plus local chapter dues

2.00 plus local chapter dues

1.00 plus local chapter dues

6.00 plus local chapter dues
10.00 plus local chapter dues

200.00 (4 annual installments)

5.00

Cover: Swainson’s Warbler in Baltimore County. Photo by Bill Hilgartner.

SWAINSON’S WARBLER CAUGHT AND BANDED IN
BALTIMORE COUNTY
BARBARA M. ROSS

On Tuesday morning, May 24, 1983 at approximately 10:30, I caught a
Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) during my daily banding routine on
the Saint Timothy’s School property off Greenspring Avenue in Baltimore County.

Checking the nets with me were Glenda and Ray Weber and their baby son,
Jeremy, on Ray’s back in a baby carrier. The bird was hanging upside down in the
net pocket. Philadelphia Vireo or Warbling Vireo ran through my mind. But when
I removed the bird and examined it more closely, I thought Worm-eating Warbler,
and yet that wasn’t right. Ray whipped out his copy of Birds of North America,
flipped over the pages and pointed to the picture of the Swainson’s Warbler. I was
speechless. It could not be possible. But that is exactly what it was.

This bird was given band #970-09204, had a 74 mm. wing cord, a 54 mm. tail and a
trace of fat. The distinctive feature was its very unusual, large, flesh-colored bill,
very high at the base. It had a lovely, delicate, lemon yellow wash over the breast.
The cap was an unusual rusty shade, warm in color but not bright. The rest of the
plumage was smooth and subdued in color. Although drab, the subtle coloration was
beautiful. The legs were a pale fleshy tone. The bird was very calm and quiet, as if it
knew it was very unusual and willing to have everyone see it.

I did a banding demonstration that morning for the Irvine Nature Center and
that lucky class saw the Swainson’s Warbler. Fred Arnold, Bill Hilgartner,
volunteer leaders, teachers and parents, my husband, Alan Ross and friends,
Susan and Jim Tonascia also saw the bird.

According to my notes, there was a northwest wind that day. It was cool and
somewhat overcast. Also according to my notes, we had had three days of rain the
previous weekend. It was wet, almost swampy, where I caught the bird.

On the evening of the 24th, I alerted Bob Ringler and the word spread. Several
people saw a singing Swainson’s Warbler where I had released the bird, but no one
could ever see the legs to check if it were the banded bird. Bill Hilgartner saw a
singing Swainson’s Warbler Saturday morning. May 28 and I believe he was the
last person to see the bird. The next day, Sunday, it rained again.

308 Thornhill Rood,
Baltimore, McL 21212

SPRING MIGRATION-MARCH 1-MAY 31, 1983

Robert F. Ringler

This spring was one of the wettest on record. Precipitation was above normal in all
three months. The following monthly totals will give an idea of just how wet it was:

Precipitation in Inches Record

Station

March

April

May

Total

Normal

from

Bel Air

7.98

9.26

7.83

25.07

12.09

1949

Owings Mills

7.89

8.64

6.62

23.15

—

-

Royal Oak

7.46

9.01

6.60

23.07

11.11

1947

ConowingoDam

6.81

9.65

6.50

22.96

11.54

1936

Baltimore

9.76

7.30

5.53

22.59

11.07

1871

The season opened with the warm temperatures of winter continuing into March,
when they averaged 2.5° above normal. But precipitation was 2.5-3 in. above normal
in most of the state; the western parts were the exception with slightly less than
normal. Most of the precipitation occurred on March 1-2, 7-10, 18-19, 21, and 27-28.
With the warm temperatures very little fell as snow.

In April the precipitation increased to 4-4.5 in. above normal in most of the state
with the west approximately +2.0 in. However, the temperature trend was
reversed, averaging 2-2.5° below normal with a sharp increase in the last few days of
the month. Major rain dates were April 3, 7-11, 15-16, 18, and 24-26. The last snow fell
on the 20th and quickly disappeared.

In May temperatures continued below normal by approximately 1.5° while
rainfall was still about 2 in. above normal across the state. Virtually all of this fell
from the 15th to the end of the month.

Many wintering birds left earlier than usual. Check Table 2 for the median
departure dates of Y ellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Creeper, Winter Wren, Hermit
Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Rusty Blackbird. Waterfowl, which had been
in low numbers all winter, melted away with major flights in early March.

The same weather that appeared to accelerate the departure of these birds also
delayed the arrival of those passerine species that normally reach Maryland in the
third week of April or earlier (House Wren, Brown Thrasher, Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher, Prairie Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, etc.). During the 10-day
period of April 16-25 daily temperatures at BWI airport averaged 9° below normal.
Purple Martins and other species suffered the most fatalities at this time.

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

65

Checking the medians (Table 1), most species that usually arrive in late April
(such as Gray Catbird, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, and Blue-winged Warbler)
were on time, bringing with them the belated early migrants as well as many species
that normally arrive slightly later in early May (Black-throated Green Warbler,
Blackpoll Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Indigo Bunting). The weather data
from BWI shows that the last four days of April averaged 11° above normal, an
overwhelming opportunity for these birds to migrate en masse. The large number of
median arrivals during the April 27 — May 1 period backs up this premise.

With the concentrated wet weather of the second half of May the final passage
through the state of some migrants was slightly delayed, with more than the usual
number going unobserved during this rainy period. Cedar Waxwings, Chestnut-
sided Warblers, and the cuckoos were among those notably late.

OBSERVERS

Garrett — Fran Pope, Connie Skipper, Sallie Thayer.

Allegany — Chris Ludwig, Robert Peterson, Teresa Simons, Mary Twigg.
Washington — Dan Boone, Truman and Leontine Doyle, Bob and Mary Keedy, Alice
Mallonee.Dinnie and Harold Winger.

Frederick — Elise Thrasher, David Wallace.

Baltimore — John and Peg Barber, Peggy Bohanan, Gladys Cole, Bob Dixon, Clark
Jeschke, Haven Kolb, Barbara Ross, Joe Schreiber, Charles Swift, Joy Wheeler,
Jim Wilkinson.

Harford — Barbara Bilsborough, Rick Blom, Dennis and Jean Kirkwood, Betsy
Reeder.

Cecil — Sean McCandless, Bob Schutsky.

Howard — Jon E. and Jon K. Boone, Monika and Rod Botsai, Martha Chestem, John
Clegg, Chuck Dupree, Jane Farrell, Jane and Ralph Geuder, Mary Hall, Anne
Hart, Grazina and Mike McClure, Rosamond Munro, Don and Jan Randle,
Chandler Robbins, Jo Solem, Earl Strain, Eva Sunell, Mark Wallace, Cathy
Williamson, Paul Zucker.

Montgomery — Larry Bonham, Margaret Donnald, Robert Hilton, Stuart
MacClintock, Robert Warfield.

District of Columbia — David Czaplak.

Prince Georges — Danny Bystrak, Ric Conn, Hans-Joachim Feddern, John Gregoire,
Wally Sumner.

Anne Arundel — Shirley Geddes, Alex and Helene Hammer, Wayne Klockner, Bob
and Pat Melville, Debbie Mignogno, Dottie Mumford, Gary and Sue Van Velsir,
Hal Wierenga.

Charles — Paul Nistico, George Wilmot.

Calvert — Walt Kraus.

St. Marys — Ronald Runkles, Erika Wilson.

Kent — Jim Gruber, Floyd Parks.

Caroline — Meri Christian, Ethel Engle, Jerry and Roberta Fletcher, R. Fountain,
Inez Glime, Marvin and Naomi Hewitt, Alicia Knotts, Mariana Nuttle, Wilber
Rittenhouse, Bill and Carol Scudder, L. Shaffer, L.T. Short, Steve Westre.

Talbot — Kathy Trever.

Dorchester — Henry Armistead, Carl Perry.

Wicomico — Sam Dyke.

Worcester — Floyd Hayes, Mary Humphreys, Mike Resch, Chris and Eddie
Slaughter.

Pelagic — Ron Naveen.

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Median*

Species

in vr. 1983

Gurr.

Allc.

Wash.

Fred.

Hull.

Hurf.

Hiiwd.

Muni. 1’r. Gee. Ann Ar.

Char.

Calv.

Kent

Cure.

Dure.

Wore.

Commun Limn

m

4/7

4/10

4/4

0

0

4/21

4 /23c

4/20 '

4/ld

4/3

4/17

3/15

3/5q

Died hilh-rl Grebe

3 / 1.1

3/10

3/21

3/10

0

0

3/0

0

-

0

3/6

4/1

0

_

0

2/18

3/26

_

Horned Grebe

3/20

3/21

3/21

3/8

0

0

-

0

3/22

3/26

4/3

3/27

3/4

3/1 Oq

0

_

_

Double-crested Cormorant

m

4/H

4/13

0

0

0

4/23

-

4/27

_

4/4

3/30 s

4/17

3/27

4/3

3/3 H

4/16s

Ami-rinm Bittern

41 13

4/22

0

4/29

0

4/10

0

0

0

-

-

4/22

0

0

4/26

-

3/26

0

Great Blue Heron

3/15

3/21

3/21

3/23

-

3/26

-

3/1

3/21

_

3/15

_

_

_

_

_

3/26

_

Great Kgrel.

4/7

4/10

0

0

0

-

5/3

4/23

0

4/10d

3/15

4/3

-

4/22

4/10

4/3

_

4/17

Snowy Egret

4/8

4/16

0

0

0

—

0

0

—

0

_

0

0

4/22

4/12

0

4/16s

4/17

Cattle Egret

4/1.1

4/13

0

-

-

4/10

0

4/18c

4/26

0

4/3

5/1

0

4/17

4/2

3/19

_

4/20w

Green-hacked Heron

4/17

4/22

-

4/17

5/2

3/30

4/1

4/23

4/20

4/13

4/4

4/23

4/23

4/30

4/22

4/27

~

4/22w

Glossy Ibis

4/9

4/25

0

0

0

0

4/27

0

-

0

_

4/11

0

4/23

0

4/29

__

_

Tundra Swan

3/5

2/26

3/6

2/26

3/2

2/26

2/25

2/24 c

2/26

2/21

_

_

2128s

3/1

2/18

2/21 1

2/3s

_

Canada Goose

2/26

2/28

3/15

3/10

3/5

—

2/24

3/4c

2/22

2/24

_

_

_

2/22

_

_

_

Wood Duck

3/9

3/5

3/4

3/7

2/26

3/10

4/2

3/5c

3/6

2/21

3/5

4/9

3/4

3/5

3/4

_

_

2/24 w

Green-winged Teal

3/22

3/11

-

3/7

0

3/10

3/1 3c

0

4/7

2/24

4/7d

0

-

3/12

3/6

2/211

3/26

-

Northern 1‘intuil

3/4

3/6

3/21

3/21

0

3/1 3c

0

2122c

2/28

2/24

0

0

3/17

0

2/1 s

0

Blue-winged Teal

3/21

3/16

3/21

3/9

3/26

3/10

3/6

4/23

3/19

3/29

3/12

3/30

3/26

3/13

3/6

0

3/3

0

Northern Shovcler

3/20

3/16

0

3/6

0

—

—

—

4/7

0

_

0

0

0

3/6

0

3/26

0

Gad wall

3/15

3/11

3/14

3/10

3/9

3/10

0

0

3/9

3/5

3/15

0

0

3/12

4/15

0

3/26

0

American Wiguon

3/7

3/13

3/8

3/19

3/13

3/6

3/ 13c

3/6

3/19

0

3/15

0

0

-

3/7

0

3/26

0

Canvashack

3/10

2/26

3/31

3/6

0

3/ 13c

-

0

2/26

0

_

_

_

_

2/19<|

1/28

2/2 H

0

Redhead

3/6

3/11

3/30

3/9

0

3/1 3c

0

0

2/23

3/13

0

0

3/4

0

0

0

0

Ring-necked Duck

3/9

3/9

3/21

3/9

3/26

2/ 19c

3/6

3/13

2/24

3/5

3/15

0

3/19

3/12

3/24

2/21 c

2/28

0

Lesser Scaup

3/10

3/7

3/18

3/6

3/25

3/ 13c

-

0

3/8

0

_

_

_

_

3/7

2/2H

_

Old squaw

3/20

3/20

3/12

3/21

0

0

-

0

0

-

3/20

-

0

-

3/5q

0

3/3lt

-

White-winged Scoter

-

4/5

0

4/10

0

0

0

-

0

0

0

0

4/17

3/30s

4/5q

0

3/311

_

Common Goldeneye

3/1

3/10

3/21

3/12

3/2

0

0

2/26c

0

0

_

_

0

_

3/10q

0

_

_

Bufflehcad

3/7

3/5

3/8

3/6

2/26

0

0

2/26c

2/26

3/5

3/20

_

_

_

_

0

_

_

Hooded Merganser

3/7

3/4

3/14

3/3

-

3/10

-

2/26c

2/26

0

_

0

_

3/5

0

0

0

0

Common Merganser

3/5

2/28

-

0

3/2

2/5

3/ 13c

2/26c

2/24

-

3/23d

0

2/17

3/20

3/3

2/17

0

0

Red-breasted Merganser

3/16

3/31

3/21

3/8

3/25

4/26

4/9

0

4/11

0

3/31 d

3/26

_

4/3

0

0

-

-

Ruddy Duck

3/17

3/15

—

3/6

0

0

—

0

4/1

0

—

0

0

-

3/25

2/2 It

-

—

Osprey

3/25

3/28

4/11

4/4

3/4

3/29

4/11

4/4c

3/30

4/19d

3/12

3/14

3/21

3/30 s

3/11

3/14

3/26

3/25w

Northern Harrier

3/8

-

-

-

3/3

-

-

-

-

-

-

3/14

-

-

-

-

-

-

Broad-winged Hawk

4/15

4/17

4/29

4/28

4/1

4/17

4/5

4/12c

4/18

4/27

4/19

4/11

0

4/16

-

-

-

4/30w

Merlin

_

3/20

0

0

4/13

0

0

3/ 15c

0

0

4/27

3/20

0

3/5

2/22

4/1 4q

0

0

Common Moorhen

5/2

4/30

0

5/1

0

0

—

0

0

0

4/29

-

0

4/16

0

0

5/3

—

American Coot

3/17

3/24

3/21

3/1

0

-

3/29

0

-

-

-

-

0

3/27

-

0

0

0

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Medians

Species

10 yr.

Gurr.

A lie.

Wash.

Fred.

Ball.

Ilarf.

llowd.

Muni. Pr. Geo.

Ann Ar.

Char.

Calv.

Kent

Caro.

Dorc.

Wore.

Semipnlmated Plover

5/4

5/7

0

0

0

5/1

5/7

5/13c

5/12

0

5/14

0

0

5/6

5/7

5/7 1

5/3

_

Killdeer

2/27

2/21

2/22

—

—

2/20

3/13c

2/26c

2/17

2/17

-

-

-

3/1

—

2/21

2/2 It

—

Greater Yellowlegs

3/25

3/27

-

4/9

-

3/26

—

-

-

-

4/1

-

1 -

0

3/24

3/27

3/13

4/7w

Lesser Yellowlegs

4/15

4/7

4/10

3/29

0

3/26

—

0

4/20

0

4/8

0

—

0

—

0

—

4/7 w

Solitary Sandpiper

4/25

4/20

0

4/7

5/2

4/18

4/27

4/26

4/20

4/8

4/28

4/28

-

3/30s

-

-

-

4/9w

Spotted Sandpiper

4/26

4/23

4/28

4/15

-

4/12

4/23

4/30

4/10

4/26d

4/8

4/26

4/23

_

_

4/29

_

5/1 w

Upland Sandpiper

4/25

—

-

0

-

4/28

0

-

0

0

4/30

0

-

0

0

0

0

Semipalmaled Sandpiper

5/3

5/7

0

5/3

U

5/17

4/23

5/7

5/7

0

5/7

0

5/7

5/6

5/7

5/7

5/3

5/7s

Least Sandpiper

4/27

4/26

0

-

0

5/1

4/23

-

-

0

0

4/28

0

0

4/26

-

_

4/16s

White-rumpcd Sandpiper

5/6

5/10

0

0

0

5/11

5/30

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/8

0

0

5/10

-

Pectoral Sandpiper

4/1 Q

3/26

0

3/27

0

3/26

-

0

-

0

3/16

0

_

_

4/26

_

_

0

Dunlin

4/21

4/19

0

4/15

0

5/17

4/23

0

0

0

0

0

3/26s

0

2/17q

0

5/3

_

Short-billed Dowitcher

5/3

—

0

0

0

0

—

4/1 1 c

0

0

0

0

0

_

0

0

4/16

_

Common Snipe

3/12

3/14

4/10

3/27

3/20

2/20

3/20

0

3/10

3/13

3/16

0

3/30s

3/1

_

4/17

2/19s

_

American Woodcock

2/27

3/3

3/9

3/29

3/24

-

3/5

3/3c

2/28

3/3

3/4

2/25

-

3/1

-

-

-

-

Laughing Gull

4/5

4/10

0

0

0

0

4/10

4 /23c

0

5/2d

4/25

4/3

5/15

4/10

4/1

4/6

4/3t

3/12

Bonaparte's Gull

3/31

4/1

4/10

4/7

0

0

2/21

4/22c

0

0

4/1 3d

3/19

0

2/12

0

0

3/26

-

Caspian Tern

4/20

4/17

0

0

0

0

4/9

4/22c

0

0

4/19d

4/4

0

4/16

4/28q

0

0

_

Royal Tern

4/20

4/20

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/15

4/23

0

0

4/ 16s

4/17

Common Tern

4/30

4/17

0

0

0

0

4/9

4 /26c

0

0

-

0

0

0

4/5q

0

5/3

-

Forster's Tern

4/24

4/22

-

4/22

0

0

-

0

0

0

0

5/6

0

0

4/15q

0

5/3

4/ 16s

Least Tern

5/3

5/7

0

0

0

0

5/7

0

0

0

5/7

0

0

5/7 s

0

0

5/3

_

Black Tern

5/8

5/9

5/8

0

0

0

0

5/ 13c

0

5/10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/6

Black-billed Cuckoo

5/10

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/7

-

5/3

5/7c

5/7

5/2

5/1

0

5/15

5/6

5/7

0

0

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

5/4

5/3

-

5/4

5/3

-

-

~

5/1

5/4

5/1

4/29

-

-

5/2

5/5

5/3

-

Common Nighthawk

5/7

5/8

5/12

5/6

5/5

5/11

5/11

5/14

5/10

5/8

5/1

5/5

5/7

0

5/16

4/27

5/14

5/7 w

Whip-poor will

4/23

4/28

4/30

-

-

_

4/28

5/lc

4/28

5/6

4/28

-

4/28

-

-

4/26

-

4/29w

Chimney Swift

4/17

4/16

4/27

4/9

4/27

4/10

4/9

4/22c

4/16

4/ 13d

4/10

4/4

4/22

4/17

4/8

4/23

4/1 6s

4/16

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

4/30

5/1

5/5

-

5/1

-

4/30

4/30c

5/2

4/23d

5/1

5/3

5/2

-

4/29

4/10q

5/3

5/lw

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

3/26

4/7

4/3

-

-

-

3/29

-

0

4/7d

4/1

4/9

-

0

4/10

0

0

4/13w

Eastern Wood-Pewcc

5/4

5/1

_

5/1

_

5/1

5/4

_

4/29d

4/28

-

_

_

-

5/2

5/3

-

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

-

5/19

5/30

5/7

0

0

5/28

5/24

0

5/24

5/4d

5/15

0

0

5/10

0

0

0

Acadian Flycatcher

5/3

5/2

-

-

5/3

5/2

5/3

5/4c

4/30

4/28d

4/29

5/5

5/2

-

5/2

5/3

-

Willow Flycatcher

5/19

5/21

-

0

5/18

5/28

5/15

5/21

5/22

5/14

0

0

0

5/30

0

0

0

0

Least Flycatcher

5/4

5/6

5/7

5/6

5/7

0

5/7

-

5/1

5/6

5/ld

-

0

-

5/7

0

0

0

Eastern Phoebe

3/17

3/e

3/6

3/1

3/16

3/10

3/14

3/10c

3/4

3/5

3/6

3/5

3/4

3/30s

3/29

2/22

-

2/12w

Great Crested Flycatcher

5/1

5/1

-

5/4

5/1

5/2

5/3

-

4/27

5/ld

4/30

5/1

-

-

5/2

4/27

5/3

4/28w

Eastern Kingbird

4/25

4/29

5/4

5/3

5/1

4/30c

4/30

5/2

4/27

4/23d

4/28

4/28

4/30

-

4/28

4/27

-

4/16s

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Medians

Species

III

yr. 1983

li'arr.

A lie.

Wash.

Fred.

Ball.

llarf.

I lewd.

Muni, |

’r. Gen.

Ann Ar.

Char.

ChIv.

Kent

Caro.

Bore.

Wore.

Purple Marlin

3/30

3/30

4/9

3/17

3/20

4/12

3/1 Oc

4/10

4/3

3/16

3/20

3/30s

4/16

3/30

3/29

3/26

4/1 s

Tree Swallow

3/28

3/30

4/10

3/8

4/4

3/30

4/4

4/4c

3/28

3/29

3/15

3/14

3/30s

4/7

3/20

4/5

3/26

4/6w

N. Rough-winged Swallow

4/11

4/10

_

3/26

4/16

3/26

4/5

4/16

4/10

3/3 Id

4/2

4/4

4/17

4/16

4/10

4/17

4/m

—

Rank Swallow

4/29

4/17

_

5/5

_

5/6

_

4/30

4/10

4/19d

4/12

4/12

—

4/16

4/10

0

5/3

0

Cliff Swallow

4/28

4/29

5/2

-

-

-

4/28c

4/16

—

5/2d

4/26

0

4/30

0

0

-

-

Barn Swallow

4/6

4/5

4/27

4/5

_

4/2

4/5

4/9

4/3

4/7d

4/4

4/4

3/26s

4/7

4/6

4/6

3/26

4/6w

Brown Creeper

3/22

3/30

4/3

—

_

—

3/29

3/4c

3/4

4/2d

4/6

—

3/30s

0

—

—

—

—

House Wren

4/20

4/25

4/22

4/25

4/29

4/27

4/26

4/26

4/23

4/23

4/4

4/22

5/ls

-

4/22

4/27

4/17s

4/29w

Marsh Wren

5/3

5/1

0

0

0

0

5/1

_

0

5/7

—

—

4/3

5/1

5/7

—

—

Golden-crowned Kinglet

3/26

3/26

3/8

0

3/26

3/30

3/29

3/14

3/4

4/2d

3/13

-

3/30. s

-

-

-

-

-

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

4/8

4/13

4/1]

4/18

4/16

4/3

4/4

_

4/14

4/!3d

4/12

4/20

4/1 8s

4/17

4/10

-

_

4/3w

Blue-gray Gnalcalcher

4/10

4/16

_

_

4/16

4/18

4/16

4/1 6c

4/16

4/13

4/16

4/14

4/17

4/23

4/3

4/27

-

4/16w

Vcery

5/3

4/30

0

0

5/6

4/30

5/3

4/30

4/29

4/29d

4/30

-

0

-

0

-

0

Gray-cheeked Thrush

5/11

5/7

u

0

5/7

5/6

5/11

0

5/5

5/4

5/7d

5/7

0

5/15

5/18

0

5/7

-

Swainson's Thrush

5/4

4/29

-

0

5/2

4/24

5/1

-

4/29

4/29

4/27

5/4

—

-

-

0

-

0

Hermil Thrush

4/13

4/10 '

_

4/25

0

4/27

4/5

3/19<:

4/13

4/13

4/10d

4/9

3/ 19s

4/10

4/3

_

_

Wood Thrush

4/24

4/28

4/29

4/28

5/1

5/1

4/28

4/29

4/28

4/28

4/28

4/30

5/2

-

4/27

4/22

_

4/1 5w

American Robin

2/22

2/23

3/2

2/23

2/ 1C

3/7

2/18

2/26

2/26

2/20

2/5

2/12

2/21

2/28s

-

-

2/2 5 w

Gray Catbird

4/25

4/28

-

4/15

4/29

4/28

4/29

4/30

4/28

4/28d

4/16

4/28

4/30

5/1

4/9

4/18

5/3

_

Brown Thrasher

4/7

4/12

4/10

4/21

4/14

4/15

4/18

3/ 16c

4/12

4/13

4/9

4/8

4/23

4/ 10s

4/10

4/12

-

4/1 5w

Water Pipit

3/20

3/9

0

3/22

0

2/16

4/4

3/ 19c

4/3

0

-

0

0

2/12

2/2 lq

0

2/28

-

Cedar Waxwing

2/22

3/4

3/9

-

-

4/27

2/22

2/17

-

-

-

-

3/30s

-

-

-

-

2/28w

Loggerhead Shrike

3/24

3/18

0

0

0

3/10

0

0

0

4/13

0

0

0

0

2/20

3/27

0

0

While-eyed Vireo

4/19

4/25

_

—

-

4/28

4/27

4/23

4/27

4/28

4/17

4/28

4/17

-

-

4/23

4/17

Solitary Vireo

4/24

4/27

4/29

4/17

-

4/27

-

4/29c

4/28

4/29

4/14

4/28

4/24

-

4/23

0

0

0

Yellow-throated Vireo

4/30

4/30

_

5/2

5/1

4/30

4/29

4/29

4/29d

4/28

4/30

5/7

4/29s

5/2

5/2

_

4/2 lw

Warbling Vireo

4/30

5/1

0

-

5/1

5/1

5/2

-

-

4/30

4/27

0

0

5/1

4/28

0

0

0

Red-eyed Vireo

4/29

4/28

-

-

-

4/30c

4/29

4/29

4/27

4/28d

4/27

4/28

4/30

4/29s

4/29

4/28

-

4/24w

Blue-winged Warbler

5/2

4/29

0

0

-

-

4/29

4/30c

4/28

4/29

4/23d

-

-

—

4/30

0

5/3

5/1

Golden-winged Warbler

5/3

5/2

5/3

-

-

0

5/1

0

0

5/6

4/30

0

0

-

-

0

0

0

Tennessee Warbler

5/3

5/2

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/2

5/1

5/7

5/1

5/ Id

5/1

5/7

-

-

4/27

-

0

0

Nashville Warbler

5/2

5/2

5/7

-

5/3

4/30c

-

5/7

4/29

5/1

5/ Id

-

0

0

5/7

0

0

0

Northern Parula

4/21

4/23

-

-

-

5/1

4/23

4/29

4/7

4/23

4/8

4/23

4/17

4/17

4/30

4/171

4/1 7s

4/16w

Yellow Warbler

4/25

4/28

5/4

4/28

4/30

4/29

4/28

4/29

4/23

4/28d

4/27

4/29

-

4/23

4/27 q

5/3

5/4 w

Chestnut-sided Warbler

5/3

5/5

5/3

5/7

5/7

0

5/2

5/7

5/7

5/ Id

4/30

4/30

5/7

-

5/3

0

5/7 1

-

Magnolia Warbler

5/3

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/7

0

5/1

5/7

5/1

4/30

5/1

5/1

5/ 17s

5/15

5/7

5/7

5/14

5/14

Cape May Warbler

5/3

5/3

5/7

5/5

5/7

5/2

4/30

5/7

5/1

4/29

5/4 d

4/29

0

5/1

4/27

5/7

0

5/14

Black-throated Blue Warbler

5/3

5/3

5/7

-

5/1

5/2

4/29

5/7

4/29

4/29

5/1

517

5/'5s

4/23

5/7

5/7

5/7 1

0

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Species

Medians
10 yr. 1983

Garr.

A lie.

WnHh.

Pred.

Ball.

Harf.

Ilowd.

Mnnt.

Pr. Gen.

Ann Ar.

Char.

Calv.

Kent

Caro.

Pore.

Wore.

Yellow-rum ped Warbler

4/15

3/26

4/29

3/26

3/26

3/29

4/23

3/17

4/2d

3/22

4/4

3/24s

_

_

_

3/20 w

Black-throated Green Warbler

5/2

5/2

4/29

5/7

5/2

0

4/30

5/7c

4/29

4/30

4/29d

4/29

5/2

-

5/7

5/7

5/7

-

Blackburnian Warbler

5/4

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/3

5/7

5/1

5/7

4/29

5/7

5/ld

5/15

0

5/14

5/7

0

5/7i

0

Yellowihronted Warbler

4/n

4/17

0

—

-

-

4/30

4/30

4/23

4/16

4/17

-

-

4/17

-

-

4/17s

4/9w

Pine Warbler

3/17

. 3/13

3/13

3/5

3/26

-

3/20

3/1 4c

3/6

4/13

3/6

3/20

3/26

2/28s

3/5

-

-

3/6w

Prairie Warbler

4/24

4/27

4/30

4/7

5/2

4/29

4/27

4/23c

4/27

4/23d

4/8

4/27

4/29

5/1 s

5/2

-

4/1 7s

4/27 w

Palm Warbler

4/15

4/21

0

-

0

-

4/21

4/23

4/28

4/13

4/17

4/21

4/17

4/23

4/16

0

0

0

Bay-breasted Warbler

5/6

5/7

5/7

5/8

5/7

5/2

-

_

5/7

5/1 d

4/30

5/7

0

5/8

5/7

0

0

5/10w

Blackpoll Warbler

5/5

5/2

—

5/11

5/8

5/7

4/28

5/7

4/29

4/29d

4/29

4/29

5/1

5/7 s

5/2

5/7

5/7 s

5/1

Cerulean Warbler

5/3

4/30

-

-

-

-

4/30

5/3

4/30

4/30

4/28

0

-

4/23

-

4/29

0

0

Black-and-white Warbler

4/20

4/20

5/1

_

_

4/20

4/15

4/29c

4/27

4/16

4/8

4/23

4/17

4/1 Is

4/16

4/28

4/17$

4/l6w

American Redstart

4/29

4/28

5/7

5/3

-

4/20

4/28

4/30

4/28

4/28d

4/27

4/29

0

4/23

4/29

-

0

4/21 w

Prothonotary Warbler

4/23

4/19

0

4/17

-

-

4/15

-

0

4/23

4/17

-

-

4/22

4/27

4/28

-

4/17

Wormeating Warbler

4/30

4/29

-

-

5/2

5/6

4/30

4/29

4/29

4/27

5/2

4/29

-

4/17

4/22

-

5/3

4/29w

Ovenbird

4/22

4/23

4/30

-

-

-

4/27

4 /28c

4/27

4/30

4/17

4/23

4/17

4/29s

4/23

4/23

4/16s

4/17

Northern Walerthrush

5/1

4/28

_

_

_

4/20

4/23

4/23c

5/5

4/28

4/28d

4/29

_

4/23

_

5/5

-

-

Louisiana Waterthrush

4/7

4/12

—

—

—

4/12

4/19

4/ 16c

4/23

4/2

4/4

4/3

4/5

4/22

4/22

—

—

4/2w

Kentucky Warbler

5/2

5/1

-

-

5/2

5/1

4 /29c

5/1

4/30

4/29

_

5/1

4/23

5/2

-

5/3

4/30w

Mourning Warbler

5/19

5/20

5/23

5/29

0

0

5/15

0

0

5/17

0

-

-

0

0

0

0

0

Common Yellowthroat

4/21

4/23

4/30

-

4/29

5/1

4/28

4/23c

4/29

4/23

4/16d

4/29

4/17

5/2s

4/10

4/23

4/ 16s

4L17w

Hooded Warbler

4/29

4/30

5/3

-

5/2

-

4/29

5/1 c

4/30

5/1

4/28

4/29

4 /29 s

4/23

0

5/7

0

4/30w

Wilson's Warbler

5/6

5/8

5/7

0

5/7

-

5/7

5/13

5/7

5/10

4/30

-

0

5/15

5/11

5/17

0

0

Canada Warbler

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/10

-

5/7

5/15

5/7c

5/7

5/1

5/4d

5/19

0

5/14

5/8

0

5/14

0

Yellow-breasted Chat

5/3

5/1

—

5/7

5/2

—

5/1

5/lc

4/30

4/30

4/30

—

5/1

5/1 8

5/2

4/29

5/3

4/30w

Bobolink

5/4

5/2

5/1

5/3

5/7

5/2

4/28

5/2

4/29

5/4

4/30

5/4

5/7s

0

5/6

5/1

5/3

0

Red-winged Blackbird

2/20

2/23

2/27

3/4

3/5

2/27

2/12

2/26c

2/20

2/4

2/9

-

3/6

-

-

2/21

_

2/19

Orchard Oriole

5/1

4/30

0

4/28

5/2

_

5/2

_

4/29

4/30

4/30

4/29

-

-

4/29

4/27

5/3

5/1 w

Northern Oriole

4/29

4/30

4/29

4/28

5/1

4/30c

4/30

5/1

4/28

4/30

4/29

5/5

4/29

0

5/2

4/27

5/3

0

Rusty Blackbird

3/13

3/14

3/14

3/2

3/26

2/26

4/4

0

—

—

3/31

0

3/4

3/4

4/7

0

—

0

Common Crackle

2/22

2/19

-

3/2

2/3

2/ 19c

2/11

2/ 19c

-

2/21

2/5

-

2/25

3/1

-

-

-

2/19

Brown-headed Cowbird

3/1

3/1

3/24

.

_

_

2/11

3/16

_

2/13

_

_

3/1

3/1

-

-

-

-

Scarlet Tanager

4/30

4/29

_

5/3

5/7

5/1

4/29

5/2

4/29

5/1

4/29

4/29

4/29

5/2s

4/29

4/28

5/3

4!29w

Summer Tanager

5/3

5/2

0

0

0

0

4/26

0

-

5/7

5/6

5/7

5/1$

—

4/28

5/3

5/2w

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/3

5/1

4/30

5/7

5/1

5/2

4/30

5/7c

4/30

4/29

4/30

5/7

5/1

4/23

5/8

5/3

0

4/29w

Blue Grosbeak

5/3

5/1

0

5/4

-

-

4/29

5/1

-

5/ld

4/29

4/28

5/4

5/ Is

4/30

4/30

5/3

-

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Table 1. Spring Arrival Dates, 1983

Medians

Species

1(1 yr. 1983

Gurr.

Allr.

Wash.

Fred.

Ball.

Purple Finch

3/3

3/26

-

3/1

3/26

3/26

4/4

Indigo Bunting

5/2

4/29

5/1

4/17

5/2

4/24

5/2

Rufous-sided Towhec

3/24

4/4

3/14

4/3

4/17

3/21

4/4

Chipping Sparrow

4/4

4/6

4/6

4/7

4/16

4/19

4/16

Vesper Sparrow

4/7

4/10

-

4/30

_

4/12

4/10

Savannah Sparrow

3/28

4/1

-

4/13

-

3/26

4/30

Grasshopper Sparrow

5/3

4/29

—

-

5/2

4/22

_

Fox Sparrow

2/28

2/28

3/22

-

3/27

3/10

2/22

Lincoln's Sparrow

5/11

5/3

0

0

0

0

4/29

Harf.

Ilowd.

Mont.

Pr. Geo.

Ann Ar.

Char.

Culv.

Kent

Caro.

Dorc.

Wore.

-

-

-

4/ 13d

-

3/5

3/30s

2/15

-

-

-

4/30

4/29

4/4

4/28

4/29

5/1

4/22

4/8

4/29

5/3

_

-

4/16

4/2d

3/29

-

4/16

4/17

-

-

4/1 6s

-

-

4/20

-

3/27

3/25

3/27

3/27

3/21

3/15

4/ 16s

_

-

4/17

4/10d

3/15

4/8

0

0

4/10

—

0

0

4/1

—

4/10d

3/14

0

_

3/16

_

_

_

-

4/29

-

4/27

-

5/1 s

4/22

5/2

-

-

-

3/ 15c

2/11

2/10

2/14

3/5

3/19s

2/26

2/28q

2/14

0

0

-

0

5/5

4/28

5/1

5/7

0

5/11

0

0

0

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

71

In the migration tables the following counties were combined with other counties
because of lack of dates: Carroll County with either Frederick or Baltimore and the
date is followed by a “c”, Cecil County with Harford County and the date followed by
a “c”, St. Marys County with Charles or Calvert and the date followed by an “s",
Queen Annes County with Kent or Caroline and the date followed by a “q’\ Talbot
County with Caroline or Dorchester and the date followed by a “t”, Somerset and
Wicomico Counties with Dorchester or Worcester and the dates followed by an “s”
or “w" respectively. In the text Wildlife Management Area is abbreviated WMA
and a “ + ” after an observer’s name indicates that there were at least two other
observers participating. Italicized dates in the migration tables denote banded
birds.

Loons, Grebes. Two Red-throated Loons were reported on Deep Creek Lake on
Apr. 21 (Skipper) and one at Elkton on Apr. 23 (McCandless). A high count of 15 was
at North Beach on Apr. 28 (Gregoire) and a late one in non-breeding plumage was at
Ocean City on May 14 (Ringler + ). The first major flights of Common Loons began on
Apr. 23 when 31 were seen flying over Oregon Ridge in Baltimore County (Ringler
+ ) and 26 over Elkton (McCandless). The biggest flight occurred on Apr. 27 when
hundreds were flying past Fort Smallwood (Wierenga) and 200 were seen over Lake
Roland (Swift). Another 175 were at Kent Island on the 28th (Gruber). Stragglers
were 2 at Sandy Point State Park on May 24 (Hammer), 1 at Elliott on May 29
(Wilkinson), and 3 at the Hart-Miller impoundment in Baltimore County on May 30
(Ringler + ). Horned Grebes began massing for the spring migration in March with
100 + in Prospect Bay on the 10th (Gruber), 100 + at Chesapeake Beach on the 26th
(Hammers), and 100 at Point Lookout the same day (Wierenga, Mignogno). There
were 65 at Fort Smallwood on Apr. 28 (Wierenga) and stragglers were at Rocky Gap
on May 23 (Twigg) and Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ). The only Red-necked
Grebes reported were singles at Ocean City on Mar. 26 (Bonham), North Beach on
Apr. 3 (Kraus), and North Branch in Allegany County on Apr. 10-13 (Mark Weather-
holt + ). Eared Grebes appeared along the western shore of the bay this spring,
apparently moving northward with Horned Grebes. Kraus noted one at North Beach
on Mar. 4 and Apr. 16-24; it was also reported by Gregoire on Apr. 28. On the latter
date Wierenga and Klockner saw one at Fort Smallwood about 30 miles to the north.

Pelagics. Naveen reports the following totals from his Ocean City boat trips: 38
Northern Fulmarson May 14 and 2 on the 21st; 1 Cory’s Shearwater on May 21; 7 Sooty
Shearwaters on Apr. 23, 6 on Apr. 28, 31 on Apr. 30, 1 on May 7, and 7 on May 21; 1
Manx Shearwater on Apr. 23; 43 Wilson’s Storm-Petrels on Apr. 28, 12 on Apr. 30, 18
on May 7, an impressive 5,741 on May 14, and 85 on May 21; 6 Leach’s Storm-Petrelson
May 14 and 3 on May 21; and a high of 346 Northern Gannetson Apr. 23 with the last 8
on May 14. Gannets also staged an impressive showing in Chesapeake Bay during
the second half of March. The first report was of 6 off Bloody Point Light on the 18th
seen from the research vessel Discovery by Hermann Gucinski, Anna Shaughenessy,
and Richard Wagner. John Hoffman saw about 20 between Smith Is. and Crisfield on
Mar. 20. On the 26th Wierenga and Mignogno found 22 at Point Lookout, 29 at Cove
Point, and 18 at Holland Point. Klockner saw 5 off Bay Ridge on the 27th, and Warren
Kucera saw 12 in the lower Bay between Deal and Tilghman Islands on Mar. 29.

Pelican, Cormorant, Anhinga. Herb and Betty Cutler saw 2 Brown Pelicans at
Ocean City on May 5. Notable sightings of Double-crested Cormorants were 30 at
Rock Hall on Mar. 27 (Gruber), 5 at Tanyard on Apr. 3 (Engle), 63 at Love Point on
Apr. 5 (Gruber), 1 at Deep Creek Lake on Apr. 13 (Pope), 25 in DC on Apr. 22
(Czaplak), 1 at Triadelphia Reservoir on Apr. 27 (Solem), 1 at Seneca on May 1

Table 2. Spring Departure Dates, 1983

Medians

Species

10 yr.

1983

Carr.

Alle.

Wash.

Prcd.

Balt.

Ilurf.

llowd.

Merit.

Pr. Gen,

Ann Ar.

Char.

Catv.

Kent

Caro.

Do re.

Wore.

Common Loon

5/11

5/15

5/7

0

0

5/30

5/23

5/10

5/7

5/24

-

-

5(11

6/7 1

5/29

5/18

Horned Grebe

5/2

5/2

5/23

0

0

5/30

0

_

-

5/3

4/28

5/ Is

4/30

4/28q

0

5/3

-

Double-crested Cormorant

5/21

5/30

5/24

0

0

0

5/30

5/3 1c

5/19

—

—

—

6/1 5s

—

-

—

5/14

6/12

American Bittern

5/2

5/10

0

5/5

0

0

0

0

5/6

5/14

0

0

0

4/26

5/13

5/14

0

Tundra Swan

■1/19

4/10

3/20

3/10

0

3/10

4/22

3/22c

3/17

4/29

4/23

4/23

3/4

3/1

4/10

4/19

5/3

5/6s

Snow Goose

4/3

4/4

0

0

0

0

0

3) 4 c

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/7

4/4

-

-

Green-winged Teal

4/29

4/17

4/0

4)25

0

3/30

3/ 13c

0

4/11

4/7 d

4/27

0

4/17

-

5/7

4/17

5/14

-

Norlhern Pintail

■1/2

4/7

3/26

5/7

0

0

3/ 13c

3/23

3/22

-

3/31

0

0

4/7

5/7

4/1 7t

5/3

5/7 w

Blue-winged Teal

5/2

5/0

5/7

5/7

5/7

4/27

4/30

5/5

4/23

5/7

-

5/1

4/23

5/10

5/7 q

-

-

Northern Shovcler

4/12

4/10

0

4/10

0

4/18

4/13

4/9

4/7

0

4/10

0

0

0

4/26

0

3/26

0

Gad wall

5/2

4/23

_

_

_

4/10

0

0

4/9

4/6d

4/30

0

0

-

5/2

5/7 1

5/14

4/1 6s

American Wigeon

4/18

4/12

4/10

3/28

3/13

4/22

4/14

_

4/27

0

4/28

0

0

4/7

4/26

0

3/26

0

Canvashack

4/13

3/31

3/31

4/15

0

3/ 13c

3/27

0

3/2

0

4/7

3/19

3/30s

4/23

4/4

-

-

0

Redhead

3/28

3/27

5/2

4/10

0

0

3/ 13c

0

3/16

3/13

3/27

0

0

4/22

0

0

0

0

Ring necked Duck

4/14

4/17

4/19

-

3/26

4/22

4/27

-

4/16

4/2d

4/13

0

4/17

3/30s

4/17

-

4/171

0

Greater Scaup

■1/7

3/30

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/23d

3/19

3/30s

4/23

3/31

0

0

0

Lesser Scaup

4/26

5/1

5/7

4/25

4/30

4/18

5/7

0

5/7

4/l9d

5/7

5/7

4/12

4/23

—

—

-

—

Oldsquaw

■1/10

4/16

4/11

4/15

4/9

0

4/23

0

0

4/10

4/1 -Id

5/7

3/30s

4/16

4)5q

0

4/!7t

5/10

Black Scoter

4/10

_

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

4/17

0

0

0

5/18

Surf Scoter

5/6

5/1

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

5/ Is

4/4

0

0

5/7 1

0

White-winged Scoter

4/24

4/12

0

4/12

0

0

0

5/7

0

0

0

_

4/17

4/11

4/5q

0

3/311

0

Common Goldeneye

4/18

4/3

3/30

3/21

_

0

0

3/7c

0

0

4/7

5/7

3/30 s

4/17

4/6

0

-

-

Bufflehead

5/2

4/28

4/27

5/6

0

0

5/7

4/30

4/30

4/1 G

-

4/17

4/23

4/28q

0

3/3 It

-

Hooded Merganser

4/18

4/21

5/7

_

5/7

4/18

3/29

4/23

4/7

0

4/16

0

5/7

—

0

0

-

0

Common Merganser

4/7

4/15

4/27

0

5/7

3/20

4/0

4/1 0c

4/27

4/19d

5/7

0

3/29

4/3

5/7

2/17

0

0

Red-breasted Merganser

5/4

5/7

5/8

_

_

4/2G

5/30

■5/7c

5/7

5/19d

5/8

-

5/7

4/12

0

0

5/7

5/18

Ruddy Duck

5/4

5/4

5/9

4/10

0

0

5/7

0

4/4

4/19d

4/10

0

1 0

4/30

5/13

0

5/151

5/1 0s

Northern Harrier

5/4

5/7

5/1

5/5

5/7

5/8

5/7

5/7

■1/3

5/26

5/9

3/30s

0

5/7 q

5/7

5/7 1

—

Rough-legged Hawk

4/3

4/4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

3/22

0

0

2/24

5/7

4/16s

—

Merlin

-

5/2

6

0

-

0

0

4/1 lc

0

0

4/27

5/10

0

-

5/2

5/15q

0

0

American Coot

5/3

4/28

4/21

5/7

0

4/18

4/30

0

4/28

4/23

5/17

4/22

0

4/30

4/26

0

0

0

Black-bellicd Plover

5/25

5/26

0

0

0

0

5/3Q

0

0

0

0

—

0

5)22

0

0

5/14w

6)12

Scmipalmatcd Plover

5/27

5/26

0

0

0

5/20

5/30

0

-

0

5/2 Id

0

0

-

-

0

-

6/12

Greater Yellowlegs

5/9

5/11

5/2

_

_

5/11

5/7

5/ 13c

5/12

5/7

5/14

0

5/10

0

5/7

5/7

5/14

5/18

Lesser Yellowlegs

5/9

5/11

-

-

0

5/11

5/7

5/1 2c

5/19

0

-

0

5/10

0

5/7

5/7

5)14

-

Solitary Sandpiper

5/15

5/14

0

_

_

5/17

_

5/14

5/19

5/14

5/27d

0

-

5/8

-

5/13

5/14

-

Spotted Sandpiper

5/25

5/27

_

_

5/22

5/26

-

5/21

5/31

5/27 d

6/1

-

-

5/31

-

-

-

-

Ruddy Turnstone

5/29

5/29

0

0

0

0

5/30

0

0

0

0

-

0

5/14

0

0

5/281

6/12

Table 2. Spring Departure Dates, 1983

Spt'fii'N

Sandcrling

Scmipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper

Dunlin

Short-billed Dowitcher
Common Snipe
Bonaparte's Gull
Short-eared Owl

Yellow-bellied Sopsucker
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Winter Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Vcery

Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush

Water Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Solitary Vireo
Blue-winged Warbler
Golden-winged Warbler

Tennessee Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler

Black-throated Blue Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Palm Warbler

Bay-breasted Warbler
Black poll Warbler
American Redstart

Medians

10 yr. 1 9HB

Gurr.

Alle.

Wash.

['red.

Balt.

llarf.

Howd.

sm

5/21

0

0

0

0

5130

0

0

5/27

6/1

0

-

0

5/20

5/30

,5/! 7

5/17

0

-

0

5/20

_

5/29

5/18

5/29

5130

—

_

_

__

_

5/5

5/7

0

-

0

-

5/7

0

5/12

5/25

6/6

0

_

0

5/20

5/30

0

0

5/2/} ■

5/24

0

0

0

0

5/30

0

0

5/4

4/24

4/10

3/28

5/7

4/22

4/20

4/7

5/3

4/22

4/10

4/12

0

0

4/27

4/26

0

3/31

3/20

0

0

0

2/28

0

0

0

5/2

5/3

4/30

5/7

5/7

4/28

4/30

4/30

0

5/3

4/30

0

5/11

0

5/6

0

4/30

3/31

4/26

4/23

—

—

_

5/1

4/21

4/22

4/28

5/8

0

5/2

M

4/28

5/5c

4/20

4/13

4/13

4/29

0

3/26

4/22

4/13

4 /23c

4/10

5/6

5/7

5/11

5/11

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/21

5/22

—

0

0

_

5/31

5/25c

5/23

5125

0

0

-

_

5/31

5/25c

_

5/25

5/28

—

0

5/22

5/22

5/30

5/27c

5/28

5/4

5/7

-

5/7

0

4/28

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/3

4/20

0

3/28

0

5/7

4/4

5/7c

4/3

5/27

5/31

-

-

5/22

6/4

5/29

5/4

5/7

—

5/7

5/7

5/1

5/7

5/7c

5/7

5/10

5/12

0

0

_

_

5/8

5/8

5/1 1

-

-

-

0

-

0

0

5/22

5/24

5/23

_

5/22

5/27

5/30

5/24

5/24

5/12

5/18

—

5/23

5/22

0

5/11

_

5/18

5/22

-

-

5/22

0

5/24

5/29

5/25

5/18

5/27

-

-

5/22

0

5/30

5/27c

5/27

5/15

5/18

-

5/21

5/18

-

-

-

5/12

5/16

5/19

-

5/23

_

5/10

5/18

5/18

5/20

5/15

5117

5/29

5/11

5/18

5/10

5/17

5/14

5117

5/15

5/18

-

-

5/22

0

5/20

5/18

5/17

5/18

5/22

—

—

5/22

5/28

5/24

5/21

5/3

5/1

0

5/1

0

511

-

511

5/7

5/24

5/25

5/23

_

5/18

5/27

5/17

5/27c

5/24

5/29

5/30

5/25

-

5/22

6/5

6/1

5/29

5/25

5/29

5/30

-

-

-

-

6/1

5/27c

5/24

Mont.

Pr. Geo.

Ann Ar.

Char,

Calv.

Kent

Caro.

Dorc.

Wore.

0

0

0

0

5/15

0

0

5/14

5/27

—

5/22

0

-

6/1

6/llq

_

6/19

6/12

5/20H

5/22

-

0

5/14

5/11

5/15

5/14

5/15

0

-

0

5/7

5/14

5/7

5/7 1

5/3

5/7 s

0

0

0

0

0

_

0

6/19

6/12

0

0

0

0

—

0

0

_

5/18

4/24d

5/7

0

0

—

5/7

5/7

5/3

4/22d

4/16

4/27

0

-

0

0

5/7

4/17

2/22

0

4/11

0

0

0

0

3/26

3/20

5/6

4/30

5/7

4/ 1 3s

0

5/7

_

5/7 1

_

5/7

4(27d

4/23

0

0

0

4/19

5/7t

4/30

4/27

4/23

-

0

4/16

4/18

__

__

0

4/1

4/9

0

0

5/10

_

4/3

4/13

4/10

4/20s

4/30

-

;/:<

-

-

5/9

5/14

5/7

5/7s

4/30

5/7

5/7 1

5/3

5/31

5/24

5/26

5/17

5/ 17s

5/18

5/19

5/14

0

6/5

5/24d

5/25

0

5/15

5/18

0

0

0

6/8

6/1 2d

6/5

5/22

5/30

5/18

5/20

0

0

5/24

5/6

5/5

4/ 13s

5/7

-

5/7 1

-

-

0

5/6

0

0

_

0

_

5/31

—

5/28

6/14

0

_

_

6/5

5/7

5/1 id

-

-

5/1

5/7

5/7 1

5/7

0

-

5/12

—

-

5/15

5/11

0

0

0

5/1 OH

5/1

0

0

5/15

5/11

0

0

0

5/25

5/27

5/22

_

_

5/18

5/15

0

0

5/28

5/ lad

-

0

0

5/18

0

0

0

5/19

5/30

-

—

5/15

5/17

0

0

5/14

5/30

6/1

5/28

5/27s

-

5/18

5/17

5/14

5/17

5/24 d

5/22

0

5/15

5/18

5/13

0

5/14

5/19

5/19

5/25

_

5/15

5/13

.

0

0

5/19

5/24

5/18

5/17

5/15

5/18

5fl5it

5(14

5J14

5/12

5/18

5/29

—

5/15

5/18

_

_

5/14

5/30

5/17

5/28

0

5/15

5/18

0

0

0

516

4/26

5/4

-

4/23

4/20

5/7

0

0

S/26

5/31

5/28

0

5/15

5/18

5/30

0

0

5/30

6/1 2d

6/2

5/30

_

5/18

5/20

0

5/30

6/4

5/29

5/24 s

5/31

-

5/22

Table 2. Spring Departure Dates, 1983

Medians

Species

10 vr.

1983

Gurr.

Alle.

Wash.

Fred.

Halt.

Harl.

Howd.

Mont.

Pr. Geo.

Ann Ar.

Char.

Calv.

Kent

Caro.

Dorr.

Wore.

Northern Waterihrush

5/23

5/2-1

5/18

5/23

5/24

5/24

5/30

5/27

5/17

5/17

5/24

Mourning Warhler

5/30

G/2

-

-

0

0

6/4 e

0

0

5/31

0

6/6

5/30

0

0

0

0

0

Wilson's Warhler

5/21

5/22

-

0

5/18

5/28

-

5/25

5/19

5/29

5/30d

5/28

0

5/15

5/18

5/17

0

0

Canada Warhler

5/20

5/27

-

-

5/18

-

5/30

5/27<:

5/24

5/31

6/5

5/28

0

5/15

5/18

0

_

(i

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

5/19

5/26

-

5/23

5/18

5/28

5/24

5/27c

6/5

5/30

6/7

6/4

a /22

-

5/18

5/13

0

0

American Tree Sparrow

3/21

3/5

3/30

_

_

2/21

2/Gc

_

-

4/14

2/15

0

0

3/17

0

0

0

Savannah Sparrow

5/7

5/18

-

-

5/18

-

-

~

5/10

5/22d

5/18

5/17

-

-

-

-

_

5/12

Fox Sparrow

-1/4

■1/13

4/23

4/3

4/17

4/8

4/18

4/1 7c

4/5

4/1 Sd

4/5

4/23

3/ 19s

3/19

0

_

0

0

Lincoln's Sparrow

5/23

5/24

0

0

0

0

5/23

5/24

0

5/28

-

-

-

0

-

0

0

0

Swamp Sparrow

5/9

5/7

-

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/23

5/18

5/11

5/19

-

5/7

5/7

-

5/7

5/7 1

5/7

-

While-throated Sparrow

5/13

5/14

5/11

5/7

5/18

5/12

5/23

5/3. 'k

.5/10

5/27

5/18

5/14

5/11

5/8

5/13

5/17

5/14

5/14

White-crowned Sparrow

5/8

5/8

5/13

5/10

5/18

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/16

5/7

5/14

5/7

0

0

5/7

5/9

5/7

5ri8

Dark-eyed Junto

5/3

5/6

5/7

5/7

5/7

5/6

4/29

5/7

5/19

5/26

5/7

4/23

4, '18s

4/23

5/7

5/4

_

4/17

Bobolink

5/16

5/21

—

-

-

5/21

-

5/22

5/19

5/20d

5/17

5/21

0

0

0

_

5/14

5/29s

Rusty Blackbird

5/4

5/3

3/22

5/7

5/7

3/30

4/4

5/7 c

-

4/13

5/3

0

5/7s

-

5/7

0

5/3

0

Purple Finch

5/5

5/7

5/12

5/7

5/18

5/7

5/7

•5/9c

5/8

5/7

5/9

5/7

4/28s

0

5/7

4/27

5/7 1

5/7 w

Pine Siskin

5/5

5/5

5/2

5/7

Evening Grosbeak

5/5

4/3

5/5

0

0

0

1/22

0

0

4/2d

4/4

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

75

(Warfield), 50 at Concord on May 7 (B. Scudder), 7 flying up the Bush River on May 7
(Blom), 350 still migrating past Assateague on May 12 (Resch), 1 at Triadelphia on
May 19 (M. Wallace), 1 on Broadford Reservoir on May 24 (Pope), and a late one on the
Susquehanna River on May 31 (Schutsky). Mary Humphreys found an Anhinga at
Berlin on May 7 and it was photographed on the following day by Fred and Frances
Brueckmann.

Herons, Ibis. American Bitterns have been very uncommon in recent years. This
spring reports came from Lilypons on Apr. 10 (D. Wallace), Sandy Point on Apr. 22
(Wierenga), Pinto Swamp in Allegany County from Apr. 29 to May 5 (Simons + ),
Greensboro on May 13 (Hewitt), and in Prince Georges County on May 14 (Gregoire).
Schutsky’s peak count of Great Blue Herons at Conowingo was 33 on May 27. The first
Great Egret of the season was reported in Prince Georges County on Mar. 15
(Gregoire), and others were at Denton on Apr. 3 (Westre) with 5 there on the 11th, in DC
on Apr. 10 (Czaplak), at Lake Roland on May 3 (Swift), and at Lilypons on May 11
(D.Wallace), the latter with one Snowy Egret. A Snowy Egret in Howard County on
May 20 (M. Wallace) was also unusual. A Little Blue Heron was at Remington Farms
on Apr. 3 (Gruber) and an adult was at Lilypons on May 28 (Czaplak, Gary Nelson).
The first Tricolored Heron was reported at Deal Island WMA on Mar. 19 (Hayes,
Glen Bennett) and one was at Black Marsh on May 30 (Ringler + ). A very early Cattle
Egret was at Preston on Mar. 19 (Westre) and another in Prince Georges County on
Apr. 3 (Gregoire). Others of note were 2 at Lilypons on Apr. 10 (D. Wallace), 5 near
Elkton on Apr. 18 (McCandless), and 9 flying over the Hart-Miller impoundment on
May 30 (Ringler + ). Early Green-backed Herons were at Back River on Apr. 1
(Wilkinson), Croom Station on Apr. 4 (Conn), and near Little Orleans in Allegany
County on Apr. 17 (Warfield). Schutsky found his first 5 Black-crowned Night-Herons
at Conowingo on Mar. 17 and his high count of 52 on May 27. These birds probably
nest in Pennsylvania. One was at Tanyard on Apr. 10 (Engle). The first Glossy Ibis
was reported from Fort Smallwood on Apr. 11 (Wierenga). Others were at
Chesapeake Beach on Apr. 23 (Kraus), 18 flying over Broadmead in Baltimore
County on Apr. 27 (Nancy Rowe), 20 at Greensboro on Apr. 29 (Hewitt), in Howard
County on May 7-8 (Zucker, Boones), and at Croom Station on May 9 (Conn).

Swans, Geese. The first major flight of Tundra Swans occurred on Mar. 5 when
Warfield noted one flock over Seneca, 84 were on the pond at Unity (Ringler), and 147
flew over Elkton (McCandless). There were 60 at Lilypons on the 10th (D. Wallace).
Warfield noted that most swans passed through Montgomery County on the 13th-
15th. One swan was calling as it flew in circles above Cylburn Park in the dark on the
night of the 14th (Ringler) and Klockner found 35 at West Ocean City on the rather
late date of Apr. 21. Among a large flight of geese on Mar. 4 McCandless counted 16
Snow Geese at Elkton. About 1,000 Snow Geese were still in the fields near Hobbs in
Caroline County on Apr. 4 (Fountain). Resch reported 35 Brant remaining at North
Assateague on May 12. March 4 was a major flight day for Canada Geese as large
flocks were noted in Montgomery County, Baltimore, and near Elkton where Mc-
Candless counted 7,267 and 3,950 on the 5th, with later flights there of 900 on the
14th and 3,542 on the 15th.

Ducks. An early Blue-winged Teal was at Back River on Mar. 6 (Ringler,
Armistead) and 16 at Lilypons on Mar. 26 (Wilson). A late one was at Harford Glen on
May 13 (Blom + ). A high spring count of 70 Northern Shovelers was at Remington
Farms in Kent County on Apr. 15 (Gruber). Gruber estimated 400 Canvasbacks in
Langford Bay and 300 in Winchester Creek in Kent County on Mar. 3. High counts of
Ring-necked Ducks were 175 at Piney Run on Mar. 13 (Ringler) and 355 on Deep
Creek Lake on Mar. 30 (Skipper), and one drake remained at Pinto Swamp through

76

Vol.39, No. 3

the end of the period (Simons + ). High counts of Lesser Scaup were 2,000 in southern
Dorchester County on Mar. 26 (Armistead) and 3,000 at Worton Point on Mar. 31
(Gruber). Gruber estimated the Kent. Island Oldsquaws on Mar. 5 at 1,200, those at
Love Point on Apr. 5 at 1,500, and the combined flock of Oldsquaws and Common
Goldeneyes in Eastern Bay on Mar. 10 at 4,000. Early Oldsquaws in Garrett County
were 1 at Deep Creek Lake on Mar. 12 (Hammers) and 1 on Broadford Reservoir on
the 18th (Thayer). There were 900 Oldsquaws in the mouth of the Choptank River on
Apr. 1 (Armistead), 4 on Broadford Reservoir on Apr. 11 (Pope), and 1 on the Easton
sewage lagoons on Apr. 17 (Ringler). A late individual, probably a non breeding
wanderer was at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ). Willoughby counted 136 Surf
Scoters and 62 White-winged Scoters in St. Marys County on Mar. 30. The 5 White-
winged Scoters at Rocky Gap on Apr. 10-12 were unusual in the mountains as was a
Common Goldeneye there on May 16 (Twigg). Connie Skipper reported that the first
open water appeared on Deep Creek Lake on Mar. 8 and one Bufflehead was
occupying the territory on that day. Her high count there was 35 on Mar. 30. Other
high counts of Buffleheads were 142 in St. Marys County on Mar. 30 (Willoughby),
175 in the mouth of the Choptank River on Mar. 31 (Armistead), and 250 at Kent
Island on Apr. 27 (Gruber). There were 27 Hooded Mergansers on Deep Creek Lake
on Mar. 30 (Skipper). The 8 Common Mergansers on Langford Bay on Mar. 3 (Gruber)
and the 1 at Point Lookout on Mar. 26 (Wierenga, Mignogno) were unusual at those
locations. There were 2 Red-breasted Mergansers at Frederick on Apr. 26 (D.
Wallace) and 1 very late bird at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ). Unusually late
Ruddy Ducks on the Eastern Shore were singles at Deal Island WMA on May 10
(Hayes), near Millington on May 13 and at the Easton sewage lagoons on May 15
(Ringler + ). A drake Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage remained on Broadford
Reservoir through the end of the period (Pope).

Table 3. Hawk Counts-Spring 1983

Washington Monument State Park March 3-May 9

Species Total

First

Last

Rest Days

Black Vulture

3/11

3/15

6

4 on 3/15

Turkey Vulture

3/11

4/15

17

9 on 3/15

Osprey

3/4

5/4

193

60 on 4/27, 35 on 4/26, 18 on 4/12

Bald Eagle

4/12

4/27

2

Northern Harrier

3/3

5/5

52

lion 4/13, 8 on 4/12, 5on3/13

Sharp-shinned Hawk

3/4

5/5

238

49 on 4/12, 38 on 4/13, 26 on 4/4

Cooper's Hawk

3/28

5/3

15

4 on 4/13, 2 on 4/27

Red-shouldered Hawk

3/4

5/3

87

49 on 4/15

Broad winged Hawk

4/1

5/3

438

166 on 4/27, 84 on 4/23, 53 on 4/17

Red-tailed Hawk

3/3

5/5

637

92 on 4/12, 81 on 4/1 1 , 64 on 3/15

American Kestrel

3/13

4/27

36

10 on 4/13, 7 on 3/15

Merlin

4/13

1

Unidentified

99

Total 1,821

34 days, 1 13 V? hours, 1.6 observers/day. Data supplied by Truman Doyle. Various observers.

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

77

Port Smallwood Park March 14-May 25

Species First

Last

Total

Black Vulture

3/14

5/9

34

Turkey Vulture

3/14

5/25

1,003

Osprey

3/14

5/25

466

Bald Eagle

4/22

1

Northern Harrier

3/14

5/9

149

Sharp-shinned Hawk

3/14

5/11

1,210

Cooper’s Hawk

3/14

5/10

263

Red-shouldered Hawk

3/14

5/6

224

Broad-winged Hawk

4/11

5/25

404

Red-tailed Hawk

3/14

5/25

231

Rough legged Hawk

3/22

1

American Kestrel

3/14

5/9

854

Merlin

3/20

5/10

61

Peregrine Falcon

5/4

1

Unidentified

87

Total

4

,989

Best Days

8 on 4/4, 7 on 3/14. 6 on 3/22
194 on 3/21, 162 on 3/14, 98 on 4/11
158 on 4/11, 93 on 4/26, 45 on 4/21
immature

59 on 4/11, 21 on 4/4, Hon 4/12
170 on 4/22, 165 on 4/29, 137 on 4/26
41 on 4/11, 31 on 3/22, 21 on 4/22
81 on 3/14, 39 on 3/20, 23 on 3/22
134 on 4/22, 123 on 4/29, 30 on 4/18
37 on 3/14, 29 on 3/22, 23 on 4/1 1
light phase

334 on 4/11, 82 on 4/12, 77 on 4/4, 75 on 3/22
51 on 4/26, 2 on 4/12 and 4/27

29 days, 121 hours, 1.5 observers/day, 4.2 hours/day. Data supplied by Hal Wierenga who was
present on 25 days. Other observers were Wayne Klockner (11 days). Larry Bonham, Bill
Clark, Shura Devore, Dan Eberly, Kerrie Kirkpatrick, and Debbie Mignogno (each 1-3 days).

Diurnal Raptors. See Table 3 for tallies from the spring hawk watches. Schutsky’s
high counts at Conowingo were 11 Black Vultures on Apr. 13 and 75 Turkey Vultures
on Apr. 22. Unusual were the 8 Turkey Vultures that Resch found resting on the
north end of Assateague on May 12. Early Ospreys were seen at Monument Knob on
Mar. 4 (Doyle), in Prince Georges County on Mar. 12 (Gregoire), and at Tanyard on
Mar. 14 (Engle); Schutsky counted 40 migrants at the Susquehanna River on Apr. 22.
A Swallow-tailed Kite was reported by Tony White near Trappe on May 4 and
perhaps the same bird was seen by Kathy Trever at Tanyard on May 13. Armistead’s
high count of Bald Eagles in southern Dorchester County was 12 immatures and 13
adults on Mar. 26 when he also counted 40 Northern Harriers. The only Northern
Goshawk reported was an immature near Broadford Reservoir on Mar. 13 (Pope). An
early Broad-winged Hawk was seen at Monument Knob on April 1 (Doyle). The only
significant numbers of Broad-wings away from the hawk lookouts (see Table 3) were
126 at Oregon Ridge Park on Apr. 23 (Ringler + ), 50 at Frederick on Apr. 27 (D.
Wallace), and 108 at Elkton the same day (McCandless). Late Rough-legged Hawks
were seen at Irish Grove on Apr. 16 (Ringler + ) and at Greensboro on May 7
(Hewitt). Both were described as dark-phase birds. The last Golden Eagle reported
was an immature at Blackwater on Mar. 26 (Armistead). Klockner spotted an early
migrant Merlin at Fort Smallwood on Mar. 20. The only Merlin reports away from
the hawk watches were singles at Fishing Creek Marsh in Calvert County on Mar. 5
(Kraus), at Price in Queen Annes County on Apr. 14 (Gruber), at Golts in Kent County
on May 2 (Parks), and near Tuckahoe State Park in Queen Annes County on May 15
(Blom + ). On Mar. 5 an unbanded Peregrine Falcon was found dead, floating near the
beach at Sandy Point by Jon Boone and Russell Chandler.

78

Vol.39, No. 3

Rails. Wierenga heard 3 Black Rails at Sandy Point on May 7. A King Rail at North
Branch May 22-25 (Twigg) was extremely rare for Allegany County. On Mar. 17
Delores Martin found a Virginia Rail sitting on her car, parked in a public lot in
Towson. The bird was captured, banded by Gladys Cole, and released in more
suitable habitat. Gregoire heard several Soras in Prince Georges County on May 14.
Interesting sightings of Common Moorhens were 1 at Croom Station on Apr. 29
(Conn), 1 at Pinto Swamp from May 1-6 (Simons + ), and 2 at the Blue Plains sewage
plant in DC on May 26 (Czaplak). The only large number of American Coots reported
was 65 at Deep Creek Lake on Apr. 13 (Skipper). Late birds were at West Ocean City
on May 14 (Ringler + )and in Prince Georges County on May 17 (Gregoire).

Shorebirds. There were 13 Black-bellied Plovers in a plowed field near Powellville
in Wicomico County on May 14 (Ringler, John Trochet). Exceedingly rare in spring
was a Lesser Golden Plover calling as it flew over the Laytonsville landfill on Mar. 22
(Wierenga, Claudia Wilds). Resch found only 2 Wilson’s Plovers and 20 Piping Plovers
on Assateague on May 12. Unusual for Cecil County were 3 Semipalmated Plovers at
Rising Sun on May 13 (Ringler + ). Armistead found 4 American Oystercatchers at
Hooper Island on Mar. 26. Rare at any time in the state were the 4 Black-necked Stilts
at Deal Island WMA on May 15 (Vaughn). On Mar. 13 there were already 21 Greater
Yellowlegs at Blackwater (Armistead). A very early Solitary Sandpiper was found on
St. Jerome’s Neck in St. Marys County on Mar. 30 (Wilson). Willets reported from
the Chesapeake Bay region were at Kent Island on Apr. 27 (Gruber), Chesapeake
Beach on May 8 (Kraus), and Benedict on the Patuxent River on May 21 (Nistico). A
very early Spotted Sandpiper was at Croom Station on Apr. 8 (Conn). Interesting
reports of Upland Sandpipers were of single birds at Anne Arundel Community
College on Apr. 30 (photographed by Van Velsir), Upper Marlboro on May 9 (Kraus),
and in Howard County on May 12 (Boone). The only reports of Whimbrels were 2 on
Assateague and 1 at Deal Island WMA on May 1 (Hammers), 2 on Assateague on May
12 (Resch), and 1 flying over Hart-Miller on May 30 (Wierenga + ). A high count for
the northern part of the bay was 20 + Ruddy Turnstones at Hart-Miller on May 30
(Ringler + ). The only Red Knots reported were 12 at Ocean City on May 6 (Czaplak),
60 on Assateague on May 12 (Resch), and 1 at Chesapeake Beach on May 21-31
(Kraus). A Sanderling was at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ). There were 35 Least
Sandpipers at Harford Glen on May 13 (Blom + ). The only White-rumped Sandpipers
reported were 2 at Blackwater on May 10 (Hayes + ), 3 at Lilypons on May 11
(D. Wallace), 2 thereon May 14 (Bonham), and 1 at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ).
An early Dunlin was at Point Lookout on Mar. 26 (Wierenga) and 1 at North Branch
on Apr. 15 was unusual for Allegany County (Twigg). There were 12 at Lilypons,
May 17-20 (D. Wallace) and 15 at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ). A Short-billed
Dowitcher at Blackwater on Apr. 16 (Hayes, Glen Bennett) was rather early and 3 at
Hart-Miller on May 30 (Ringler + ) were slightly late. The only notable count of
Common Snipe was 20 at Denton on Apr. 18 (Hewitt). Kerry Kirkpatrick and
Wilkinson found an American Woodcock nest with 5 eggs at Masonville on May 7.
Naveen’s pelagic birders found 8 Northern Phalaropes off Ocean City on May 14, and
Red Phalaropes numbered 14 on Apr. 23, a whopping 1,001 on Apr. 28, 50 on Apr. 30,
and38onMay 14.

Jaegers, Gulls. The April 30 pelagic trip off Ocean City found a Pomarine Jaeger
and 2 Parasitic Jaegers, plus 2 of the latter on May 7 and 1 on May 14 (Naveen + ). An
early Laughing Gull was at Ocean City on Mar. 12 (Klockner). An immature Little Gull
at Hart-Miller on May 30 (Wierenga + ) was certainly a non-breeding vagrant.
Interesting totals of Bonaparte’s Gulls were 21 in DC on Apr. 13 (Czaplak) and 32 on
the Susquehanna on Apr. 26 (Schutsky). Schutsky makes weekly counts of

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

79

waterbirds on the lower Susquehanna River and his other high totals were 13,500
Ring-billed Gulls on Mar. 3, 2,750 Herring Gulls on Mar. 7, and 1,000 Great Black-
backed Gulls on Mar. 7. Wierenga described a possible immature Thayer’s Gull at
Laytonsville on Apr. 13. He also found there an immature Iceland Gull on Mar. 17,
single adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls on Mar. 4 and 17, and an immature Glaucous
Gull on Mar. 16-17. Other immature Glaucous Gulls were at Back River on Mar. 6
(Armistead, Ringler), on the Potomac River in DC on Mar. 22 (Czaplak), at Fort
Smallwood on Apr. 18 (Wierenga), and at Hart-Miller on Apr. 23 (Dixon). There were
10 Great Black-backs at Denton on Mar. 7 (Hewitt). A highlight of the Apr. 28 boat
trip from Ocean City was a Sabine’s Gull (Naveen + ).

Terns. Resch found 2 Gull-billed Terns at Assateague on May 12. The 15 Caspian
Terns flying over Lake Roland on Apr. 27 (Swift) were unusual inland. There were 3
Royal Terns at Rumbly Point on Apr. 16 (Ringler + ) and 3 more at Point Lookout on
May 1 (Wilson). An early Common Tern was seen in Baltimore on Apr. 9 (Conn) and 1
on the Susquehanna on Apr. 26 (Schutsky) was rare. One Arctic Tern was reported on
the May 21 boat trip from Ocean City (Naveen + ). Extremely rare in western Mary-
land were a Forster’s Tern at Rocky Gap on Apr. 22 (Ludwig) and 2 at Deep Creek
Lake on May 8 (Pope). Reports of Black Terns’were as follows: 1 at Ocean City on May
6 (Tony Futcher + ), 15 at Broadford Reservoir on May 8 (Pope), 2 there the next day
(Skipper), and 1 more on the 30th (Pope), 1 at Violet’s Lock on May 10 (Sumner + ), 2
on the Susquehanna on May 13, 1 there on the 23rd, and 2 more on the 27th
(Schutsky).

Owls, Goatsuckers, Swifts, and Hummingbirds. A Burrowing Owl near Oakland
on May 18-20 was well-photographed and will be reported separately. This bird,
which appears to be of the western race, is the first for Maryland. Short-eared Owl
reports were of 1 at St. Martin’s Neck on Mar. 20 (Hammers) and 2 at Fort Smallwood
on Apr. 11 (Wierenga). One out-of-place Chuck-will’s-widow was calling in Frederick
on May 3 (Elise Thrasher). Two Chimney Swifts at Fort Smallwood on Apr. 4
(Wierenga) were a bit early. Also early was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird near the
village of Queen Anneon Apr. lO(Rittenhouse).

Kingfishers, Woodpeckers. Sallie Thayer saw a pair of Belted Kingfishers
excavating a nest burrow in the bank of the Youghiogheny River near Oakland on
Mar. 1. Three days later she saw a Red-tailed Hawk capture the female kingfisher
from a branch overhanging the river and perch nearby to consume the remains while
the male watched quietly from another perch. Two days after this event the male
kingfisher was seen working on the burrow again. There was no report until Apr. 6
when a pair of kingfishers was again excavating, this time about 15 feet from the
previous burrow. This effort was also unsuccessful as the nest was later flooded by
high waters. The kingfishers departed for the season. A Pileated Woodpecker
observed at Fort Smallwood on May 5 (Wierenga) may have been a migrant.

Flycatchers. The only Olive-sided Flycatchers reported this spring were at
Beltsville on May 17 (Sumner), at the Frederick Watershed on May 21 (D. Wallace),
and near Stevenson on May 25 (Dixon, Ringler). Yellow-bellied Flycatchers were
more widely reported this spring, including an early one in Allegany County on May
9 (Boone) and one at Mountaineer Farms in Garrett County on May 30 (Thayer).
Others that were banded were caught at Annapolis on May 15 (Melvilles), Aberdeen
on May 24 (Bilsborough), Adventure Sanctuary on May 24 and 29 (Donnald), and
Towson on May 28 (Cole). Early Eastern Phoebes were at Adventure on Mar. 5

80

Vol.39,No.3

(Mumford) and at Patuxent River Park the next day (Hammers). Also early was an
Eastern Kingbird at Irish Grove Sanctuary near Marion on Apr. 16 (Ringler + ).

Swallows, Purple Martins seem to be returning earlier every year. This spring’s
early arrivals included birds at Boonsboro on Mar. 17 (Doyles). Unfortunately these
birds, which attempted nesting in April, were decimated by the cold rainy weather
of the spring. Wierenga reported a large flight of Tree Swallows going past Fort
Smallwood on Mar. 14. Wilson estimated 1,000 Tree Swallows at Chingville
Reservoir in St. Marys County on Mar. 30 and Engle estimated 175 at Tanyard on
Apr. 10. There were 4 Rough-winged Swallows at Lilypons on Mar. 26 (D. Wallace).
Cliff Swallows are rarely seen in migration but suddenly appear at their nesting
sites. This year a few were seen in passage. One was at Scott’s Landing in Worcester
on May 15 (John Trochet + ), 2 at Bestpitch in Dorchester County the same day
(Wilkinson, Hammers), and 1 atNorth Pointon May 30(Ringler + ).

Jays, Wrens, Kinglets. The big flight of Blue Jays occurred during the period
April 29 t hrough May 1 with lesser flights being recorded on May 7 and 13. Mary Hall
reported that Carolina Wrens completed construction of a nest in her shed on Folly
Quarter Road in Howard County on Mar. 19 and there was one egg in it two days
later. She believes that 5 young hatched on Apr. 15 or earlier. Sallie Thayer found
Winter Wrens singing on territory on Backbone Mountain from May 23 on. A late
Golden-crowmed Kinglet was near Sunderland on Apr. 30 (Kraus) and a late Ruby-
crowned Kinglet was near Oakland on May 31 (Thayer).

Thrushes. At Annapolis the Melvilles banded 173 Swainson’s Thrushes for the
season including a daily high of 30 on May 24 and the last on June 5. A very late
Hermit Thrush was banded at Adventure Sanctuary on May 24 (Donnald). Large
flocks of American Robins moved through the state during March. These included
birdsat Elkton,600on the 5th (McCandless), Fort Frederick on the9th (Keedy), Bray
Hill in Garrett County on the 14th (Skipper), and Denton, 500 on the 25th (Fletcher).

Mockingbird, Pipits, Shrikes. Mark Wallace saw an albino Northern Mockingbird
near Daisy in western Howard County on Apr. 7-11. The only numbers of Water
Pipits reported were 50 near Elkton on Mar. 19 (McCandless) and 200 in southern
Frederick County on Mar. 26 (Wilson). Michael Welch discovered the Loggerhead
Shrikes at Lilypons occupying a nest on Apr. 17 and it was apparently successful.
Another Loggerhead Shrike was at Tuckahoe State Park on Mar. 27 (Westre) and
one at Hughes Hollowon Apr. 13(Bonham).

Warblers. The first Golden-winged Warbler was reported at Beltsville on Apr. 30
(Sumner). A Brewster’s hybrid was near Elkton on May 16 (McCandless) and
Lawrence's hybrids were seen at Mechanicsville in St. Marys County on May 2
(Runkles) and on Backbone Mountain on May 23 (Thayer); the latter was singing like
a Blue-winged Warbler. An early Nashville Warbler was at Westminster on Apr. 30
(Klockner). Late Chestnut-sided Warblers included a singing male near Bush River
on May 29 (Ringler, Blom) and one at Patuxent River Park on May 30 (Hammers). The
highest count of Yellow-rumped Warblers reported was 200 near Elkton on Apr. 29
(McCandless). The Hammers found an early Pine Warbler male feeding on snow-
covered branches near Herrington Manor in Garrett County on Mar. 13 where they
are rare at any season. Also early was one at a more likely location. Green Ridge in
Allegany County on Mar. 5 (Simons). The high count of Palm Warblers was 8 in Kent
County on Apr. 16 (Parks). A late Bay-breasted Warbler was at Denton on May 30

September 1983

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81

(Westre). Blackpoll Warblers appeared at several locations on the early date of Apr.
29 including 1 at Arnold (Klockner), 1 at Bowie (Feddern), and 2 at Fort Smallwood
(Wierenga). A Swainson’s Warbler was banded and photographed at St. Timothy’s
School near Stevenson in Baltimore County on May 24 (Ross + ). A Swainson’s
Warbler was seen and heard singing there at least through the 28th. An early
Kentucky Warbler was near Sunderland on Apr. 23 (Kraus). A male Connecticut
Warbler was reported on Good Lion Road in Howard County on May 15 (Boone) and
one was banded at Sandy Spring on May 21 (MacClintock). Mourning Warblers were
widely reported this spring with the earliest being banded at Baltimore on May 15
(Barbers). Margaret Donnald and her crew banded 13 for the season at Adventure
and the Melvilles netted one at Annapolis on June 5. Others were seen, all singing
males, at Myrtle Grove on May 30, at Hoffman Mill Road in Carroll County on J une 4
(Hammers), at another Annapolis location on June 5 (Mumford), and in Arnold on
June 6 (Klockner). Sallie Thayer found 5 males and 1 female on Backbone Mountain
on May 25. To round out this paragraph 8 species of warblers were seen on the May
14 pelagic trip out of Ocean City (Naveen + ).

Buntings, Dickcissel. Early Indigo Buntings were at Tolchester on Apr. 8 (Dave
Bramble) and in Allegany County on the 17th (Twigg). A Dickcissel was banded at
Baltimore on Apr. 29 (Barbers) and Dave Wallace found 8 in southern Frederick
County on May 10 and later.

Emberizines. A Red-crested Cardinal remained in Rock Hall from Jan. 1 through at
least Apr. 2 (Parks, Gruber + ). There were 6 early Savannah Sparrows at Lilypons
on Mar. 26 (D. Wallace); one in DC on May 22 (Czaplak) was a late migrant. The
Hammers and others found 3 Henslow’s Sparrows on Greenfield Road in southern
Frederick County on May 21. A Sharp-tailed Sparrow at Chesapeake Beach on Apr.
16 (Kraus) was unusual. Klockner found Seaside Sparrows at Sandy Point from Apr.
23 through May 24 and Wierenga saw one at Fort Smallwood on May 4. An early
Lincoln’s Sparrow was in Prince Georges County on Apr. 28 (Gregoire) and another
was banded in Baltimore on the next day (Barbers). Late bandings at Adventure in-
cluded a White-throated Sparrow on May 27 and a Dark-eyed Junco on May 26
(Donnald). Another junco that had been banded as a hatching-year bird at Aberdeen
on Nov. 29, 1979 by Barbara Bilsborough was found dead in Westfield, New
Brunswick, Canada on Apr. 29 of this year.

Icterines. Notes on Bobolinks were 40 at Potomac on May 4 (Wilson), hundreds
passing over Fort Smallwood on the same day (Wierenga), 100 + at the National
Colonial Farm near Accokeek on May 7-8 (Nistico), and one singing male on Smith
Island on May 29 (Joy Wheeler). The only count of Rusty Blackbirds reported was 60
in DC on Apr. 13 (Czaplak). Feddern noted that his last 2 wintering Northern Orioles
were last seen on Mar. 20 at Bowie.

Cardueline Finches. Thayer saw the last Pine Siskin at her feeder near Oakland on
May 2, and the last reported were 2 along the Potomac in Washington County on
May 7 (Boone). Pat Harrelson reported that a European Goldfinch visited her feeder
in Cape St. Claire on Apr. 17 and ate thistle seed for about an hour before departing.
At Bray Hill in Garrett County on Mar. 14 there were 40 Evening Grosbeaks at
Connie Skipper’s feeder; the last remained through May 5.

3501 Melody Lane, Baltimore, MD 21207

THE

PRESIDENT’S PAGE

As I approach the end of my third and final year as president, I would like to
brag a little on the MOS. I think the MOS has a renewed sense of purpose and
momentum, thanks to things like the revitalized spirit of the sanctuary organiza-
tion which was kindled by George Kramer and nurtured and enlarged by Ben
Poscover. The Yellowthroat, which was fledged by Dan Boone and is currently
edited by Cam Lewis, has given the chapters a means of communication and
helped to draw them together into a cohesive organization. There is also a
statewide Breeding Bird Atlas, which was conceived in its present configuration
by Danny Bystrak. This is shaping up to be the greatest birding extravaganza
Maryland has ever seen and it promises to provide us with birding opportunities
for the next five years. Lee Meinersmann accomplished a major revision of the
bylaws, and Mildred Gebhard added another scholarship, in honor of Eleanor
Robbins, to her list. There are also two new committees, the Records Committee
and the Eagle Committee, and these are just some of the things that have been
happening.

The MOS is a great organization because the basic attraction is wholesome and
sound, and it continues to thrive because of the large number of dedicated people
who keep it functioning smoothly. I am proud to pass it on to President Marty
Chestem. She is a very widely travelled and competent birder, and I am confident
that she will carry on the traditions of the MOS.

John Cullom

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL MEETING

The 36th annual membership meeting of the Maryland Ornithological Society
was held at Delmar, Maryland on May 14, 1983. A quorum was on hand when
President John Cullom called the session to order at 8:15 p.m. Following a motion
by Mrs. Joyce, duly seconded and passed, reading of the Minutes of the previous
meeting was waived.

Tribute was paid to the memory of Gordon MacGregor, our Treasurer for the
past ten years, who died on March 27. Dr. Herriott was thanked for completing his
term of office. The Treasurer’s year-end report showed total assets of
aproximately $99,000, distributed among three major funds. A motion was
introduced by Mr. DuMont, seconded and approved, accepting the report, which
will be published in the June 1983 issue of Maryland Birdlife.

Mr. Cullom expressed his appreciation to all who had contributed toward
making his tenure of office pleasant and successful, especially the officers,
Executive Secretary and committee chairmen. He cited major accomplishments:
progress of the Sanctuary Committee under the able leadership of George Kramer
and Ben Poscover; launching of the Maryland Yellowthroat as a unifying force

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

83

within the Society, with Dan Boone and Cam Lewis as editors; and the formation of
the Records Committee by Jim Stasz, the Eagle Committee under John Gregoire,
and the Atlas Committee chaired by Bob Ringler. Mr. Cullom voiced confidence in
the new officers to carry on the good work begun.

The upward growth of the Society continues. Mrs. Cullom reported 2170 total
paid memberships this year. She thanked chapter treasurers for their cooperation.

Chairmen of the standing committees presented their reports, which will be
printed in the June 1983 issue of Maryland Birdlife. A brief synopsis of each is
given here:

Auditing- Rodney Jones. The Society’s accounts have been reviewed and found
to be in good order.

Bluebird-Larry Zeleny. The 1982 nesting season was successful in Maryland and
most of the East. The North American Bluebird Society now numbers over 4,000
members. Greater participation is invited.

Budget- Emily Joyce. Next year’s budget projects a deficit in two funds. Largely
due to the addition of three new committees, a decrease of approximately $3,000 is
expected in the Operating Fund. To partially offset this shortfall, Mrs. Joyce
presented a motion from the committee that dues be raised $1 for individuals, $2
for family memberships. The motion was seconded and passed. Because of several
large planned expenditures, a deficit of approximately $2500 is anticipated in the
Sanctuary Fund. It was the committee's recommendation that a fund drive be held
annually for the benefit of the sanctuaries.

Bylaws- Lee Meinersmann. A complete revision of the bylaws and a new manual
of operations have been completed and approved by the Board of Directors. Main
features are improved flexibility of operation and a greater voice in MOS
management for the membership.

Conservation- AnneV.% Davis. This past year the Committee’s efforts had three
main thrusts — cooperation with the Long Range Planning and Sanctuary
Committees to establish an acquisition policy for our sanctuaries; support for the
Costa Rica national park system, where so many Maryland birds winter; and
promotion of conservation-oriented legislation. Mrs. Robbins recommended that
MOS members join the National Wildlife Federation and support issues publicized
in their newsletter. Two telephone services provide information about environ-
mental concerns — Audubon Hotline, 202-547-9017, and Clean Air Hotline, 202-547-
5551.

Convention-Tony White. CDR White was commended for his excellent arrange-
ments for this year’s successful meeting, attended by 221 persons. The new by-
laws permit greater latitude in planning for future conventions.

Education- Roger Herriott. A number of activities are planned for next year,
including field trips for hawk identification, consolidation of several chapter junior
nature camps, courses in basic ornithology and bird identification from songs, and
encouragement of individual research projects.

Library- Joy Wheeler. The committee continues to work toward maintaining
libraries at our sanctuary houses.

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Vol-39, No. 3

LIBRARY COMMITTEE

There were no meetings of the members of the committee, though discussions
were held about the placement of a bequest of books at Adventure Sanctuary. We
are waiting to carry out these plans as soon as arrangements can be completed.

Joy Wheeler, Chairman

Long Range Planning- Joanne Solem. This committee is in the process of re-
examining the goals established for MOS five years ago. Included are a long range
plan for our sanctuaries, and ways of enhancing the public image of the Society.
Suggestions from the chapters are welcome.

Publications-Chan Robbins and Cam Lewis. Publication of Maryland Birdlife
and the Maryland Yellowthroat continues. Contributors to both our journal and
newsletter are requested to get copy in on time, so schedules may be maintained.

Records- Bob Ringler. Largely because of the organizational efforts of Jim Stasz,
this committee is now operational. Its aim is to document Maryland avian rarities
as thoroughly as possible.

i?esearc/i-Charles Vaughn. The next two issues of Maryland Birdlife will contain
articles about projects sponsored by our grants. Call for applications for next
year’s awards will be published soon.

Sanctuary- Ben Poscover. The committee has many ambitious plans for the
maintenance and growth of our sanctuary system. Committee Vice Chairman Paul
Bystrak has resigned because of a job change. Dr. Poscover introduced a motion,
duly seconded and passed, directing the President to express to Mr. Bystrak the
Society’s gratitude for his services and wish him well.

Sc/io/arsAip-Mildred Gebhard. Scholarship winners were announced. To mark
the 25th anniversary of the death of Helen Miller and the founding of the fund
which bears her name, a second ornithology scholarship has been established,
named the Eleanor C. Robbins Scholarship. The committee proposes a fund drive
to raise $5,000, the interest from which will support this scholarship annually. The
Baltimore Chapter has pledged $1,500. A standing ovation was given to Chan and
Eleanor Robbins, who anonymously endowed the Scholarship Fund 25 years ago,
and have supported it financially through the years.

Nominating- John Malcolm. The following were nominated to serve as officers
for the 1983-84 season: President, Martha Chestem, Howard Chapter; Vice
President, Anthony White, Montgomery Chapter; Treasurer, Richard Cleveland,
Montgomery Chapter; Secretary, Helen Ford, Anne Arundel Chapter. There were
no nominations from the floor. A motion by Mrs. Farrell was received, seconded by
Dr. Poscover and passed, electing these officers unanimously. A rising vote of
thanks was given to John and Lettie Cullom, outgoing President and Executive
Secretary.

Miss Chestem was impressed with the committee reports and the work so many
members had performed quietly behind the scenes to make the MOS a viable
organization. She accepted her new position, calling it an honor and challenge. She
thanked the Howard Chapter for the reception given her, and the Culloms for
their help.

At 9:50 p.m., Mr. Vaughn’s motion to adjourn was received, seconded and passed.

Helen M. Ford, Secretary

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

85

MOS BLUEBIRD PROJECT

The MOS Bluebird Project continues to be closely integrated with the North
American Bluebird Society, now starting its sixth year. The Bluebird Society now
has some 4,000 members throughout most of the United States and Canada. About
ten percent of the members reside in Maryland and include many MOS members.

The 1982 bluebird nesting season was quite successful in Maryland and in most
parts of the East. Winter survival appears to have been excellent in most areas
owing to favorable winter weather in most parts of the bluebirds’ winter range.
Although the stage was set for a banner 1983 nesting season in Maryland, this
prospect was partially upset by the near record cold and rainy weather during
nearly all of April. Delays in nesting and abandonment of early nesting attempts
were common. These setbacks are now being largely compensated for as a result of
more favorable May weather.

Evidence continues to accumulate that properly managed bluebird nesting box
trails effectively reverse the long downward bluebird population trend in local
areas. Much broader public participation in this effort is needed to assure the
survival of the species in an increasingly hostile environment. This is the primary
aim of our project and of the North American Bluebird Society.

Larry Zeleny

1983 CONVENTION SUMMARY

The 1983 Convention was held at Delmar, and had the "Maryland/D.C. Breeding
Bird Atlas” as its theme. About 250 members came to join in the fun and get some
first hand experience in “atlasing.” The usual field trips to Eastern Shore hotspots
were supplemented by special Atlas survey trips to blocks near Delmar. Many
possible and confirmed breeders were noted in the six blocks near the convention
site. Even the pelagic trip out of Ocean City observed a yellowthroat carrying
nesting material 30 miles out at sea. The Atlas committee is still trying to figure
out how to record that bird. The emphasis on Atlas surveys did not reduce the
variety of species seen, as over 198 species were tallied by the various convention
field trips.

On Friday night, Dr. Charles Smith of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
gave us a talk on the importance of Atlases to the study of breeding bird
distribution. He put his message to practical use by leading one of the field trips.
On Saturday Rick Blom, the Maryland Atlas coordinator, gave us an informal
report on the current status of the project. It was gratifying to hear that we were
off to such a good start; however, a great many additional volunteers are still
needed. His talk was followed by the Society’s annual meeting, and Marty
Chestem was elected our new president.

The convention was not all field trips and meetings. There was a lecture on bird
photography and a bird carving demonstration. Above all there was time to meet
with your friends and share the birds of the past year. The book-store did a land
office business and sold their entire stock of Claudia Wilds’ new book, ‘‘Finding
Birds in the National Capital Region.” Claudia, herself, was there on Saturday to
autograph copies.

A good time was had by all. The 1984 convention will be held in Western
Maryland where in addition to the camaraderie we will be able to enjoy new birds
and new birding areas. See you there.

Tony White, Chairman

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Vol.39,No.3

BYLAWS COMMITTEE

After four years of labor and a changing committee, the new MOS Bylaws and
Manual were completed and presented to the Board of Directors. They were
approved at the last Directors’ meeting in March. In the future, all changes in
Bylaws will be submitted to the members for approval. The Manual, which is a
procedural document supplementing the Bylaws, will still be the responsibility of
the Board of Directors.

The main features of the change were that members were given greater voice in
the management of the organization, and many operations were streamlined and
made more direct. The Executive Council was reorganized to consist only of the
top elected officers, and committee chairmen were placed on the Board of
Directors, hence eliminating what were virtually two governing boards.

We believe the new procedures will work. Members who are interested in
obtaining copies should contact Lettie Cullom. Any new Director should also
contact Lettie, as previous officeholders already have their copies.

Lee Meinersmann (Chairman), Helen Ford, Jim Cheevers

EDUCATION COMMITTEE

The committee developed a tentative program, but each member was deeply
involved in other activities and the program had to be placed in abeyance. The
program included:

1. Field identification of hawks on trips in the fall to Fort Smallwood and to
Monument Park in Washington County. Dates, leaders and meeting locations will
be published in the Yellowthroat.

2. Consolidation of the several chapter Junior Nature Camps is under study to
determine if this would improve the camp quality and at reduced cost.

3. An outline of a course in basic ornithology is being developed. Feather and
wing structure, food preferences and nesting habitats will be discussed in such a
course for beginners. One or more field trips are contemplated.

4. Bird identification from their songs is a feature that has not been fully
emphasized and deserves a place in our program. Tapes and records will be
selected and made the center of learning sessions for beginners or others if there
is an interest in it.

5. Birders are encouraged to carry out even small research studies and to
write them up for Birdlife.

Next year several or perhaps all the above activities will be introduced on a trial
basis.

RoberM. Herriott, Chairman

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

87

LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE

During the past year, this committee continued to work closely with the
Sanctuary Committee. The chairmen of those committees, along with several
other MOS representatives, met with delegates from The Nature Conservancy in
January to discuss the long range land acquisition goals of our respective organiza-
tions.

This committee continues to be concerned with the Society’s public image,
though President Cullom has initiated several activities during his terms of office
that should result in higher visibility for MOS over the next few years. Continuing
efforts to increase our membership, obtain favorable and frequent publicity, and
support environmentally sound legislation are essential to establishing our
preeminence in the state.

Late last summer this committee was asked to consider the feasibility of an
MOS-sponsored, statewide breeding bird atlas project. Long Range Planning
strongly endorsed the concept along with the idea of partial financial support from
the state MOS.

A second item referred to us was whether an MOS-sponsored bookstore should
be established. This committee is withholding its recommendation until the ad hoc
committee appointed by President Cullom has made its report.

The Long Range Planning Committee is beginning work on a set of five-year
goals in order to update the 1978 report issued by this committee which
established ten long range goals for the state organization. Suggestions from
individuals as well as chapters are requested.

Joanne K. Solem, Chairman

SANCTUARY COMMITTEE

The Sanctuary Committee held regional meetings in the Western, Central and
Eastern Areas, and also met with Mr. Robert Blake of The Nature Conservancy as
directed by the Executive Board. Reports were sent to the Yellowthroat, and
plans for revision of the Sanctuary Bulletin were established.

A Spring workday was held at Carey Run Sanctuary, a survey of sanctuary
needs completed, budget projects for 1983-1984 identified, other projects
identified through 1985.

Residency of Jim Stasz at Irish Grove was completed, workdays held in fall and
spring, budget projects for 1983-84 identified, and other projects identified
through 1986. The Atlas Project Director established residence at turn Suden
Sanctuary under guidelines established by Harford Chapter, President Cullom
and the Sanctuary Committee. Guidelines were incorporated into a formal lease
signed by the Atlas Project Director, to be renewed annually. Emergency repairs
completed included replacement of the water heater, repairs to the roof, and
replacement of the carport roof. The sanctuaries without houses are all in
excellent shape. The 1983-84 budget was constructed and submitted for approval.

Barclay E. Tucker, Chairman

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Vol.39, No. 3

SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE

Once again the Scholarship Committee has chosen winners for the four
scholarships awarded annually for attendance at National Audubon Ecology Work-
shops. These winners were chosen from eighteen very worthy candidates.

Mr. Martin H. Brazeau, teacher at the Whiskey Bottom Road Elementary
School in Howard County, is winner of a Helen Miller Scholarship and has chosen
to attend the Audubon Ecology Camp in Maine.

Mr. Edwin Lee Gosnell, biology teacher at Towson Senior High School, is also
winner of a Helen Miller Scholarship and has chosen to attend the Audubon
Ecology Camp in Maine.

Ms. Corinne Auchenbach, Nature Interpreter at the Bureau of Recreation in
Baltimore City, is winner of the Amateur Gardeners’ Club of Baltimore Scholar-
ship and has chosen to attend the Audubon Ecology Camp in Wisconsin.

Mr. Joseph J. McCann, Director of Parks and Recreation in Anne Arundel
County, is winner of the Orville W. Crowder Memorial Scholarship and has chosen
to attend the Audubon Ecology Camp in Maine.

Through the generosity of MOS officers and members of the Board of Directors,
a second scholarship for attendance at an ornithology workshop has been made
available this year. The second scholarship enables us to honor both of the
founders of our scholarship program and is to be known as the Eleanor C. Robbins
Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee plans a fund drive to raise $5,000, the
interest from which should support this second ornithology scholarship on an
annual basis.

This year the winner of the Chandler S. Robbins Scholarship is Paul Ford, under-
graduate student at the University of Maryland, with a strong interest in birding
and in the re-establishment of the Eastern Bluebird.

The winner of the Eleanor C. Robbins Scholarship is Rick Holt, Maryland State
Park Ranger, with a special interest in birding and community education in
birding.

These two winners were chosen from a group of nine worthy candidates. Both
have chosen to attend workshops in ornithology offered by the Laboratory of
Ornithology at Cornell University.

Again the Scholarship Committee wishes to thank all of our membership who
have shown an active interest in our scholarship program. We are dependent on
you for locating fine candidates for our scholarships and for your financial support
and continuing interest in training young people who will return to the community
and continue the education of present and future generations.

Mildred E. Gebhard, Chairman

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

89

DIFFERENTIAL SELECTION OF CAROTENOID
PIGMENTS IN A LEUCISTIC NORTHERN FLICKER

Floyd E. Hayes and William K. Hayes

Various plumage aberrencies occur somewhat regularly in the Northern Flicker
(Colaptes auratus). For example, Gross (1965a) and Ross (1973) recorded 19 accounts
of albinistic or leucistic flickers, and Gross (1965b) reported at least two instances of
melanism. Although much is known concerning the phenotypic expression of pig-
ments in hybrid flickers (Short 1965), relatively little is known regarding the genetic
mechanisms controlling pigmentation in anomolous colored individuals of this
species.

Deane (1880) and Blankespoor (1982) both described leucistic Northern Flickers in
which the melanin pigments were completely absent while the yellow flight feathers
and undertail coverts and red nuchal patch were retained. As pointed out by Short
(1965), these observations are good evidence for the separate genetic control of
melanin and carotenoid pigments in flickers. Following Buckley (1982:65), these
birds should be classified as non-melanic leucistic.

On several occasions between April 1 and May 2, 1978, we observed a partially
leucistic male Northern Flicker at Beltsville, Prince George’s County, Maryland.
Our field notes indicate the bird was white with dark bars on the back, a dark tail,
black whisker stripes and a red nuchal patch. Soft part coloration appeared normal.
The flicker often foraged with and courted a normal plumaged female; there were no
indications of abnormal behavior.

The white feathers of the flicker apparently resulted from a loss of carotenoid
pigments* primarily xanthophylls and to a lesser extent carotenes, which are
responsible for the yellow coloration in flickers (Test 1942). The melanin pigments,
however, were retained, again suggesting separate genetic control between
carotenoid and melanin pigments. Our bird appears to have the opposite type of
partial leucism described above, and could thus be classified as non-carotenoid
leucistic (Buckley 1982:65). The retention of red coloration in the nuchal patch,
produced by the presence of red carotenoids (Test 1942), further suggests separate
genetic control between specific kinds of carotenoid pigments.

Although the differential selection of carotenoid pigments may have occurred in
previous records of leucistic flickers, such birds are usually reported only as albinos
and are seldom adequately described in the literature. We believe this note is of
value in that only through the compilation of many similar observations can we hope
to understand the genetic and pigmental bases of avian coloration.

LITERATURE CITED

BLANKESPOOR, G.W. 1982. Albino Common Flicker. South Dakota Bird Notes
34:41.

BUCKLEY, P.A. 1982. Avian genetics. Pp. 21-110 in M. Petrak, ed., Diseases of cage
and aviary birds, 2nd ed. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia. 680 pp.

DEANE, R. 1880. Additional cases of albinism and melanism in North American
birds. Bull. Nuttall Ornithol. Club 5:25-30.

90

Vol.39,No.3

GROSS, A.0. 1965a. The incidence of albinism in North American birds. Bird-Band-
ing 36:67-71.

GROSS, A.0. 1965b. Melanism in North America birds. Bird-Banding36:240-242.

ROSS, C.C. 1973. Some additional records of albinism in North American birds.
Cassinia 54:18-19.

SHORT, L.L., Jr. 1965. Hybridization in the flickers (Colaptes) of North America.
Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull. 129:307-428.

TEST, F.H. 1942. The nature of the red, yellow, and orange pigments in
woodpeckers of the genus Colaptes. Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool. 46:371-390.

FEH, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology,
Un i versi ty of Michigan, Ann A rbor, MI 481 09
WKH, Departmen t of Biological Sciences,
Walla Walla College, College Place, WA 99324

BOOK REVIEWS

THE FALCONS OF THE WORLD

Tom J. Cade. Paintings by R. David Digby. 1982. Cornell University
Press, Ithaca, New York. 192 p., 44 color plates, 30 maps, bibliography.
$38.50.

The name Tom Cade has been associated with falcons for a long time. For 5
years we Baltimoreans had a love affair going with our own peregrine, Scarlett,
one of Cade’s protege’s from Cornell. Because of this we may have a limited view
of the range of Peregrines worldwide, our attention being focused from the
USF&G Building to Cornell, where Scarlett and all of her foster nestlings were
hatched. This new book will assuredly widen our Peregrine horizons, taking us as
far west as the Fiji Islands, as far south as the Falklands (Malvinas), as far north as
the Bering Sea. There is little wonder that the word, “peregrinations”, is linked to
the habits of this bird, or that this bird’s habits link it to the word. And we won’t
be limited to the story of Peregrines, fascinating as it is, but will be introduced to
39 species of falcons worldwide. Along with biological information on falcons in
general, we’ll get the historical treatment from the recent brush with DDT all the
way back to the Pliocene beginnings from a smaller kestrel-sized bird found in the
same African regions as the earliest hominids. Is this where falconry began?,
wonders our author, an experienced falconer himself. Current prospects for
survival of falcons are good, with the “intrinsic capacity of falcons to adjust to en-
vironmental changes and to reach some accommodation with man-dominated
lands.” Each of the 39 species is represented by full-page illustrations by noted
British artist and falconer, David Digby. It will look great on your coffee table, but
you won’t leave it there untouched for long, for it’s as readable as it is beautiful
and informative. Our copy will be kept in the Cylburn MOS Bird Museum Library.

Joy Wheeler

September 1983

Maryland Birdlife

91

ONCE A RIVER

Bird Life and Habitat Changes of the Middle Gila; Amadeo M. Rea. 1983.
University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 285 p. $24.50.

Consider the rivers of the southwestern part of our continent before European
settlement: long, narrow, moist green ribbons through immense desertlands. The
fertile flood plain soil cultivated by simple agriculture, possibly irrigated by
rudimentary canals, produced ample crops for many small communities. Broad-
leaved trees provided food and shelter for both humans and wildlife. The water
table was high, replenished by seasonally heavy river flow, retained by the thick
growth in the flood plain. Lands so favored with ever-running rivers and thick
cover of woodland, narrow strips though they were, were abundant with bird life,
the breeding birds of summer, migratory stop-overs, wintering flocks.

How do we know this? Amadeo Rea has used several sources to piece together
the ornithological history of the Middle Gila River system, which includes the Gila,
Salt, and Santa Cruz Rivers as they flow through the Gila River Indian Reserva-
tion, south of what is now Phoenix, Arizona. Writings of early Spanish explorers,
oral history of Pima Indians and other tribes of the region, remains of painted
ceramics, the 1907-1915 records of M. French Gilman, and the author’s own 1963-
1981 studies trace the interaction of human culture with the land, the results being
measured in the changing bird populations. Indians had inhabited these river
banks for generations with no apparent damage. Significant changes began to
occur from the time of the first Spanish records, a very short time in the history of
the Planet. Many of the changes, unnoticed as they were happening, are presently
irreversible.

What did the Indians know that helped them preserve their homelands? Or was
it what they didn’t know? How to construct a railroad through miles and miles of
open land to bring people seeking agricultural and grazing land, and to bring
products to build cities with their insatiable demands for water was what they
didn’t know. What they did know was how to live in the desert land with its life-
giving river without injuring the delicate balance between the two. Where fertile
biomes once thrived, rivers now no longer run perennially with water, banks are
gouged out by unchecked floods, weedy species of plants proliferate. Could the
almost complete destruction of the river system have been foreseen? Could the
forces contributing to its unrestrained abuse have been checked? There is nothing
in the Pima Language or folklore to predict or ensure these things. Still existing in
the language, though, is a wealth of Pima names and stories of long-legged shore
birds, aquatic birds with wondrous fishing abilities, woodland birds gracing
riverbank trees. All in flocks no longer to be found.

The author of Once a River has gathered enough material to establish a base-
line study for the future as we consider the possibility of halting the
desertification of the entire Southwest. My heightened interest in the historic
accounts of its beauty and its birds gave way to despair over the seemingly
hopeless condition of these rivers today.

Joy Wheeler

92

Vol.39, No. 3

BIRDS IN FACT & LEGEND

Walter Harter, 1979, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., NY 10016, 128 pp. 10
drawings, index, $5.95.

This small book (one of a series. .."Dogs in Fact & Legend”, etc.) would be handy
to have, even if you have many scientific ornithological studies lined up on the
shelf beside it. You know how your reputation as a birdwatcher makes you the
target for the public’s bird related questions. This book will not provide all the
answers, but it does offer many facts in concise, readable form. Even for us
sometime students of ornithology. There are some facts presented that heretofore
may have escaped us: What is the Cain & Abel syndrome among eagles? What
ungainly bird lays an egg one quarter its weight? Then there are the legends that
grew up around birds before we were able to explain scientifically their often
mysterious behavior: Why do sparrows hop? Were ravens ever white? How did
the hummingbird lose its voice? These stories are fun to read and useful when
leading a bird walk on an otherwise birdless day. You may be able to satisfy your
group with flights of fancy instead. Our MOS copy is at Carey Run Sanctuary.

Joy Wheeler

CONTENTS, SEPTEMBER 1983

Swainson’s Warbler Banded in Baltimore County. ..Barbara M. Ross 63

The Season — Spring Migration,

March 1-May 31, 1983.. .Robert F. Ringler 64

The President’s Page. ..John Cullom 82

Minutes of the Annual Meeting, May 14, 1983. .. Helen M. Ford 82

Committee Reports. ..Chairpersons 85

Differential Selection of Carotenoid Floyd E. Hayes and

Pigments in a Leucistic Northern Flicker... William K. Hayes 89

Book Reviews... Joy Wheeler

The Falcons of the World. ..Tom J. Cade 90

Once a River. ..Amadeo M. Rea 91

Birds in Fact & Legend... Walter Harter 92

MARYLAND BIRDLIFE

Published Quarterly by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Inc. to Record
and Encourage the Study of Birds in Maryland.

Editor:

Chandler S. Robbins, 7900 Brooklyn Bridge Road, Laurel,
Md. 20707 (725-1176)

Assoc. Editor:

Jon E. Boone, 9505 Good Lion Rd., Columbia 21045

Asst. Editor:

Robert F. Ringler, 3501 Melody L., Baltimore 21207

Production:

Lettie Cullom

Mailing:

Barbara Larrabee and committee

Headings:

Schneider Design Associates, Baltimore